SUBPICOSECOND AND CONTINUOUS-WAVE LASER OPERATION OF (F2-CENTER LASERS IN THE 2-MU-M RANGE()H AND (F2+)AH COLOR)

We report synchronously mode-locked subpicosecond and continuous-wave color-center laser operation in the 1.8-2.4-mum wavelength range. For active materials we use (F2+)H centers in KBr:02- and (F2+)AH centers in KBr:Na+:O2-crystals. When the lasers are pumped with a continuous-w ave or mode-locked NaCl(F2+)H-center laser in a cascaded configuration , laser operation is obtained over the combined tuning range of 1.8-2. 4 mum, with output powers as high as 150 mW. When synchronously mods l ocked with approximately 5-ps pump pulses, both KBr lasers yield typic ally approximately 1-ps pulse widths over the entire tuning range. Pul ses as short as approximately 400 fs could be obtained at the expense of higher noise levels.