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Injection-seeded, gain-switched tunable Cr:ZnSe laser.
Huseyin Cankaya1, M Natali Cizmeciyan, Ersen Beyatlı
1Department of Physics, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Optics Letters
|August 3, 2012
Summary
Researchers developed a narrow-linewidth, tunable Cr:ZnSe laser using injection seeding. This technique significantly reduced spectral width, enabling precise wavelength control for laser applications.
Area of Science:
- Laser physics
- Mid-infrared optics
- Solid-state lasers
Background:
- Gain-switched lasers often exhibit broad spectral widths.
- Tunable lasers are crucial for various spectroscopic applications.
- Chromium-doped zinc selenide (Cr:ZnSe) is a promising gain medium for mid-infrared lasers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve narrow-linewidth operation in a gain-switched Cr:ZnSe laser.
- To demonstrate wavelength tunability using injection seeding.
- To characterize the performance of the seeded laser system.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a gain-switched Cr:ZnSe laser.
- Employed injection seeding with a second tunable continuous-wave (CW) Cr:ZnSe laser.
- Varied the output wavelength by tuning the seed laser's wavelength.
Main Results:
- Reduced spectral width from 125 nm to 0.3 nm via injection seeding.
- Achieved tunable operation between 2255 and 2455 nm.
- Produced high-energy pulses (157 µJ) with 26% slope efficiency at 1 kHz repetition rate.
Conclusions:
- Injection seeding is an effective method for narrowing the linewidth of gain-switched Cr:ZnSe lasers.
- The developed laser system offers tunable, narrow-linewidth output in the mid-infrared.
- This technology has potential for applications requiring precise wavelength control in the 2-2.5 µm range.
