Title :
Ultrabroad Mid-Infrared Tunable Cr:ZnSe Channel Waveguide Laser
Author :
Macdonald, John R. ; Beecher, Stephen J. ; Lancaster, Adam ; Berry, P.A. ; Schepler, K.L. ; Kar, Ajoy K.
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Photonics & Quantum Sci., Heriot-Watt Univ., Edinburgh, UK
Abstract :
Operation of a Cr:ZnSe external-cavity waveguide laser is demonstrated with a CW tuning range of 700 nm from 2077-2777 nm (700 nm or 36 THz), the widest tuning range demonstrated by a waveguide laser. Narrow linewidths as low as 53 pm FWHM (3 GHz) are achieved and a maximum output power of 120 mW is attained at 2446 nm with over 15 mW available across the entire tunable range. A theoretical model is presented allowing the effect of changes to the system to be quantified in terms of laser performance; this allows the limitations of the architecture to be assessed. Good agreement is seen between the model and the experimental values obtained.
Keywords :
II-VI semiconductors; chromium; laser cavity resonators; laser tuning; semiconductor lasers; waveguide lasers; wide band gap semiconductors; zinc compounds; CW tuning range; FWHM; ZnSe:Cr; external-cavity waveguide laser; laser performance; output power; power 120 mW; theoretical model; ultrabroad mid-infrared tunable channel waveguide laser; wavelength 2077 nm to 2777 nm; Educational institutions; Laser modes; Laser theory; Laser tuning; Optical waveguides; Quantum cascade lasers; Waveguide lasers; Channel waveguide lasers; mid-infrared lasers; transition metal solid-state lasers; ultrafast laser inscription;
Journal_Title :
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JSTQE.2014.2341567
