Semiconductor disk laser pumped Cr2+:Znse lasers

A new flexible pump source, the optically-pumped semiconductor disk laser (SDL), for the Cr2+:ZnSe laser is reported. The SDL provides up to 6W output power at a free running central wavelength of 1.98 mu m. The Cr2+: ZnSe laser operated at an output power of 1.8W and a slope efficiency of similar to 50% with respect to absorbed pump power whilst maintaining a low output intensity noise figure of <0.14% RMS. The system required no optical isolation even under the situation of significant optical feedback.