Cr:CdSe A NOVEL COMBINED LASER/NONLINEAR OPTICAL CRYSTAL FOR MID-IR APPLICATIONS

Many nonlinear optics (NLO) applications are frustrated by lack of suitable crystals. Chromium-doped Cadmium Selenide (Cr2+:CdSe) is an example of a laser host which is also the NLO crystal. This crystal is not available in suitable size or quality. However, it is potentially a very useful material for laser systems. Cr2+:CdSe, diode-pumped at 1.9um and possibly 0.88um infrared (IR) region. CdSe has excellent thermal and optical properties. Diode-pumped Cr2+:CdSe could provide broadly tunable or selectable-fixed-frequency IR radiation suitable for the many DOD and commercial uses detailed below. A method for incorporating the desired level of Cr2+ in CdSe crystals must be developed. Cleveland Crystals has used two techniques to produce samples of Cr2+:CdSe. Bridgman growth with Cr doping and diffusion of Cr into previously grown CdSe crystals. During Phase I, we would optimize the diffusion technique to produce Cr2 . Development risk is reduced because CdSe single-crystals of high quality are now commercially available and supported by our infrastructure. Phase II would be aimed at optimizing crystals for particular pump lasers, increasing crystal size and improving production processes. The goal would be commercial production of Cr2+:CdSe bars for laser/NLO applications.