Lead-salt lasers

Lead-salt diode lasers have been commercially available for more than two d ecades and became essential for laser mid-infrared gas analysis with high s ensitivity and selectivity. Their emission covers the wavelength range from below 3 mum to more than 20 mum. Continuous emission is observed to above 200 K, and pulsed emission to above 80 degreesC. Their main advantage over other materials is a two orders of magnitude lower Auger recombination rate . Basic material properties, the present state-of-the-art lead-salt lasers and trends and possibilities are discussed.