Cr²+:ZnSe saturable absorbers (SA) are ideal materials for passive Q-switches of eye-safe fiber and solid-state lasers operating in the spectral range of 1.5-2.1 μm.
Fe²+:ZnSe Ferrum doped zinc selenide saturable absorbers (SA) are ideal materials for passive Q-switches of solid-state lasers operating in the spectral range of 2.5-4.0 μm.
Yb:YAG is one of the most promising laser-active materials and more suitable for diode-pumping than the traditional Nd-doped systems. Compared with the commonly used Nd:YAG crsytal, Yb:YAG crystal has a much larger absorption bandwidth to reduce thermal management requirements for diode lasers, a longer upper-laser level lifetime, three to four times lower thermal loading per unit pump power. Yb:YAG crystal is expected to replace Nd:YAG crystal for high power diode-pumped lasers and other potential applications.
Ho:YAG Ho3+ ions doped into insulating laser crystals have exhibited 14 inter-manifold laser channels, operating in temporal modes from CW to mode-locked . Ho:YAG is commonly used as an efficient means to generate 2.1-μm laser emission from the 5I7- 5I8 transition, for applications such as laser remote sensing, medical surgery, and pumping Mid-IR OPO’s to achieve 3-5micron emission. Direct diode pumped systems,and Tm: Fiber Laser pumped system have demonstrated hi slope efficiencies, some approaching the theoretical limit.
Tm doped crystals embrace several attractive features that nominate them as the material of choice for solid-state laser sources with emission wavelength tunable around 2um. It was demonstrated that Tm:YAG laser can be tuned from 1.91 up to 2.15um. Similarly,Tm:YAP laser can tuning range from 1.85 to 2.03 um.The quasi-three level system of Tm:doped crystals requires appropriate pumping geometry and good heat extraction from the active media.
Active elements from Erbium doped Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet crystals (Er:Y3Sc2Ga3012 or Er:YSGG), single crystals, are desinged for diode pumped solid-state lasers radiating in the 3 µm range. Er:YSGG crystals show the perspectiveness of their application alongside with the widely used Er:YAG, Er:GGG and Er:YLF crystals.