Abstract

In order to extend the range of solid state laser sources further into the mid-infrared, we have explored the stimulated emission properties of praseodymium in the low phonon energy host crystal, lanthanum trichloride. [1] With this material, we have obtained efficient pulsed operation at the longest wavelength reported to date for any rare earth laser, 7.2 μm. Our studies show that this new four level laser system operates well over a wide range of temperatures, 130 to 324 K.

© 1995 Optical Society of America