High-temperature solution growth of Cr2+ : CdSe for tunable mid-IR laser application

Solid-state tunable laser sources in the mid-IR region have been recently investigated for their potential in remote sensing applications. Room temperature lasers based on single crystals of chrominm-doped CdSe are particularly interesting due to their broad band tunability beyond 2 mu m spectral region. In this study, we have grown doped single crystals by the high-temperature gradient freezing solution technique, using selenium as the solvent. Crystals of 1.2 cm in diameter and up to 7 cm long, cracks and precipitates free could be obtained. The effective segregation coefficient of Cr2+ ions along the ingot was evaluated. Room temperature emission lifetime values of 3.0-4.5 mu s were measured. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier science B.V. All rights reserved.