4.5 μm wavelength vertical external cavity surface emitting laser operating above room temperature

A midinfrared vertical external cavity surface emitting laser with 4.5 mu m emission wavelength and operating above room temperature has been realized. The active part consists of a single 850 nm thick epitaxial PbSe gain layer. It is followed by a 2 1/2 pair Pb1-yEuyTe/BaF2 Bragg mirror. No microstructural processing is needed. Excitation is done optically with a 1.5 mu m wavelength laser. The device operates up to 45 degrees C with 100 ns pulses and delivers 6 mW output power at 27 degrees C heat-sink temperature.