Energy scaling of room temperature Fe2+:ZnSe gain-switched 4.3 μm laser

We report an optimization of Fe:ZnSe crystals fabrication, as well as a fourfold increase of the output energy of the gain-switched middle-infrared Fe:ZnSe laser pumped by the radiation of Q-switched Cr:Er:YSGG (2.8μm) laser. Lasing was studied over 236-300K temperature range. In Fabry-Perot cavity with 18% OC reflectivity the maximum output energy reached 4.7 mJ @ 4.3μm and 3.6 mJ @ 4.37μm at 236K and 300K, respectively and was limited only by available pump energy. Threshold was about 8 mJ and was practically unchanged over studied temperature range. The laser slope efficiencies decreased from 19% to 16 % with an increase of temperature from 236 to 300K.

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