Mid-infrared PbTe vertical external cavity surface emitting laser on Si-substrate with above 1 W output power

Mid-infrared vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) emitting above 1 W output power in pulsed mode and up to 17 mW in continuous mode at -172 degrees C were realized. Emission wavelength changes from 5 mu m at -172 degrees C to 3.6 mu m at 20 degrees C heat sink temperature. The active medium is a one wavelength thick PbTe layer grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a Si-substrate. It is followed by a 2.5 pair Pb(1-y)Eu(y)Te/EuTe epitaxial Bragg mirror. The cavity is completed with an external curved Pb(1-y)Eu(y)Te/BaF(2) mirror. The VECSEL is optically pumped with 1.55 mu m wavelength laser and In-soldered to Cu heat sink. No microstructural processing is needed.