Efficient pulsed Cr2+:CdSe laser continuously tunable in the spectral range from 2.26 to 3.61 μm

The efficient lasing of a Cr²⁺:CdSe single crystal pumped by 1.94-μm, 300-μs pulses from a Tm:YAP laser was obtained. The Cr²⁺:CdSe laser with a nonselective resonator emitted up to 17 mJ at a wavelength of ~2.65 μm with the quantum slope efficiency of 63% with respect to the absorbed pump energy. The absorption coefficient of the Cr²⁺:CdSe crystal at the laser wavelength did not exceed 0.045 cm^-1. By using a resonator with a dispersion prism, the laser wavelength was continuously tuned in the spectral range from 2.26 to 3.61 μm.