Laser on single-crystal ZnSe:Fe²⁺ with high pulse radiation energy at room temperature

A laser on single-crystal ZnSe:Fe²⁺ was investigated at room temperature. Pumping of the laser was performed by a pulsed electrodischarge HF laser. In experiments, the spot diameter of HF laser radiation incident to the surface of the crystal varied from 5.6 to 17 mm. Generation energy of ∼1.2 J was obtained and the efficiency with respect to the energy arriving at the crystal was η _in  ≈  25%. The slope efficiency with respect to the energy absorbed in the crystal at large spot dimensions was η _slope  =  45%. (letter)