Efficient broadly tunable continuous-wave Cr2+: ZnSe laser

An efficient continuous-wave Cr2+-doped ZnSe laser pumped by a Co:MgF2 laser is experimentally demonstrated. In a single-pass pump scheme we observed up to 520 mW at similar to 2500 nm in 0.4-nm narrow-band operation, with 52% incident-power slope efficiency, and a tuning range between 2180 and 2800 nm. In the multipass pump scheme we also observed and analyzed the effect of dual Q-switching laser action at 1.75 and 2.5 mum in the Co:MgF2-Cr:ZnSe coupled-cavity oscillator. Finally, we report the measurement of the passive losses and of the ground-state absorption at the lasing wavelength. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America

Assessing written work by determining competence to achieve the module-specific learning outcomes.

This chapter describes lasers and other sources of coherent light that operate in a wide wavelength range. First, the general principles for the generation of coherent continuous-wave and pulsed radiation are treated including the interaction of radiation with matter, the properties of optical resonators and their modes as well as such processes as Q-switching and mode-locking. The general introduction is followed by sections on numerous types of lasers, the emphasis being on todayʼs most important sources of coherent light, in particular on solid-state lasers and several types of gas lasers. An important part of the chapter is devoted to the generation of coherent radiation by nonlinear processes with optical parametric oscillators, difference- and sum-frequency generation, and high-order harmonics. Radiation in the extended ultraviolet (EUV) and x-ray ranges can be generated by free electron lasers (FEL) and advanced x-ray sources. Ultrahigh light intensities up to 1021 W/cm2 open the door to studies of relativistic laser–matter interaction and laser particle acceleration. The chapter closes with a section on laser stabilization