Slope efficiency and tunability of a Cr2+: Cd0.85Mn0.15Te mid-infrared laser

Efficient and widely tunable mid-infrared laser operation from Cr2+: Cd0.85Mn0.15Te was demonstrated. The pulsed Cr2+: Cd0.85Mn0.15Te laser was tuned using a quartz birefringent filter in a spectral range from 2300–2600 nm. Free running laser action centered at ∼2660 nm was achieved using a set of mid-infrared laser mirrors on CaF2 substrates. The maximum slope efficiency obtained for the free-running laser using an uncoated crystal was 44.2%.