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 °C were realized. Emission wavelength changes from 5 μm at −172 °C to 3.6 μm at 20 °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 Pb1−yEuyTe/EuTe epitaxial Bragg mirror. The cavity is completed with an external curved Pb1−yEuyTe/BaF2 mirror. The VECSEL is optically pumped with 1.55 μm wavelength laser and In-soldered to Cu heat sink. No microstructural processing is needed.