Iron-doped CdxMn1−xTe crystals for mid-IR room-temperature lasers

Fe-doped transparent single crystals of Cd0.55Mn0.45Te were grown by the Bridgman technique. The crystals were optically characterized in terms of their infrared absorption and emission spectra as well as emission lifetime at low and room temperatures. The infrared optical properties of the Fe:CdMnTe indicate that it is a promising candidate for room-temperature gain-switched lasers tunable over the 4–6.5 μm spectral range.