Efficient grating-tuned mid-infrared Cr2+:CdSe laser

Room-temperature, all-solid-state, broadly tunable laser operation of Cr2+-doped CdSe has been demonstrated. Pumping with a Q-switched Tm, Ho:YLF laser running at a 1-kHz repetition rate achieved broadband output of 500 mW at 2.6 mu m with 48% absorbed power slope efficiency. With reduced efficiency, as much as 815 mW of power was obtained. With a diffraction grating, the Cr2+:CdSe laser was tuned from 2.3 to 2.9 mu m with 10-nm bandwidth (FWHM) and output power up to 350 mW. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.