Above Room Temperature Lead Salt VECSELs

Mid-infrared vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSEL) were developed for the wavelength range 4 to 5 μm. The devices are based on lead salt materials grown by MBE on BaF2 or Si substrate. The VECSELs are optically pumped with a 1.55 μm wavelength laser. They are operating up to above room temperature. An output power 6 mWp was reached at a temperature of +27°C. The VECSELs are temperature tunable and lasing is observed from ∼4.8 μm at −60°C down to ∼4.2 μm at +40°C heat sink temperature.