A compact Er:YLF laser with a passive Fe^2+:ZnSe shutter

This paper describes an experimental study of the lasing of an Er:YLF laser at wavelengths 2.66, 2.71, and 2.81 µm under selective pumping by the radiation of laser diodes at wavelength 0.98 µm and passive Q-switching of the cavity by a shutter based on an Fe²⁺:ZnSe crystal. Single pulses are obtained with energy 3 mJ and width 30 ns at wavelength 2.81 µm.