Temperature and concentration quenching of mid-IR photoluminescence in iron doped ZnSe and ZnS laser crystals

► Optical and magnetic characterization of iron doped ZnS/Se samples. ► Mid-IR photoluminescence quenching Fe:ZnSe and Fe:ZnS crystals. ► Emission cross-section of Fe2+ ions in ZnSe. ► Magnetic susceptibility has field-dependent contribution arising from aggregated Fe.