A broadly tunable cw laser using color centers

Abstract

Cw laser action in an optically pumped Li‐doped KCl crystal containing F_A (II) centers has been demonstrated. The laser wavelength was continuously tunable over the range 2.6–2.8 μm. Pump power at threshold was 50 mW, and threshold powers in the submilliwatt range can be predicted for an improved cavity design. Laser action was obtained for crystal temperatures in the range $\text{77≲ T ≲ 200\hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{°}\mathrm{K}$ .