Tunable, Single-Frequency, and Multi-Watt Continuous-Wave Cr^2+:ZnSe Lasers

We demonstrate CW rapidly-tunable (4.5 microm/s), highpower (150 mW), single-longitudinal-mode (120 MHz) single-crystalline Cr(2+):ZnSe laser; CW widely-tunable (2.12-2.77 microm), multi-watt (2 W over 2.3-2.7 microm), polycrystalline Cr(2+):ZnSe laser; CW multi-watt (6 W, at 2.5 microm), highly efficient (48% real efficiency) polycrystalline Cr(2+):ZnSe laser; CW multi-watt (3 W, at 2.5 microm), highly efficient (41% real efficiency) ultra-compact polycrystalline Cr(2+):ZnSe laser; and CW hot-pressed ceramic Cr(2+):ZnSe laser.