Subpicosecond and continuous-wave laser operation of (F_2^+)H and (F_2^+)AH color-center lasers in the 2-μm range

We report synchronously mode-locked subpicosecond and continuous-wave color-center laser operation in the 1.8-2.4-microm wavelength range. For active materials we use (F(2)(+))(H) centers in KBr:O(2)(-) and (F(2)(+))(AH) centers in KBr:Na(+):O(2)(-) crystals. When the lasers are pumped with a continuous-wave or mode-locked NaCI (F(2)(+))(H)-center laser in a cascaded configuration, laser operation is obtained over the combined tuning range of 1.8-2.4 microm, with output powers as high as 150 mW. When synchronously mode locked with ~5-ps pump pulses, both KBr lasers yield typically ~1-ps pulse widths over the entire tuning range. Pulses as short as ~400 fs could be obtained at the expense of higher noise levels.