Recent developments in Cr{sup 2+}-doped II-VI compound lasers

Conference · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:471337

Page, R H; DeLoach, L D; Beach, R J; Payne, S A; Krupke, W F ^[1]; Burger, A ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
2. Fisk Univ., Nashville, TN (United States). Center for Photonic Materials and Devices

Transition-metal-doped zinc chalcogenide crystals have recently been investigated as potential mid-IR lasers. Tetrahedrally-coordinated Cr{sup 2+} ions are especially attractive as lasants on account of high luminescence quantum yields for emission in the 2000-3000 nm range. {sup 5}E radiative lifetimes and emission cross sections are respectively {approximately}10 {mu}sec and {approximately}10{sup -18} cm{sup 2}. The associated absorption band peaked at {approximately}1800 nm enables laser-diode pumping of the Cr{sup 2+} systems. Laser demonstrations with ZnS:Cr and ZnSe:Cr (using a MgF{sub 2}:Co{sup 2+} laser pump source) gave slope efficiencies up to 30%. Excited-state-absorption losses appear small, and passive losses dominate. Tuning experiments with a birefringent filter evidence a tuning range covering at least 2280 - 2530 nm. Cr-doped laser samples can be produced by Bridgman growth, seeded physical vapor transport, or diffusion doping.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 471337
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--122122; CONF-960137--7; ON: DE97051528
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
CHROMIUM
DOPED MATERIALS
SOLID STATE LASERS