Pulsed Fe~(2+): ZnS laser continuously tunable in the wavelength range of 3.49-4.65 μm

摘要

A laser based on a Fe~(2+): ZnS crystal is demonstrated for the first time. Lasing in this crystal is obtained at room temperature under pumping by 40-ns pulses of an Er: YAG laser at a wavelength of 2.94 nm. The slope efficiency of the Fe~(2+): ZnS laser with respect to the absorbed pump energy was 32 %, and the output energy reached 3.4 mJ. Continuous tuning of the laser wavelength within the range of 3.49-4.65 nm was achieved using an intracavity dispersion prism.