5 µm CW Ce3+-doped chalcogenide glass fiber laser with 17% slope efficiency

Efficient room temperature mid-infrared laser action in a Ce 3+ -doped chalcogenide fiber was demonstrated. The fiber had a doped selenide glass core in an undoped sulfide glass cladding. The pump source was a CW Fe 2+ :ZnSe laser emitting at 4.14 µm. The optimized fiber length allowed obtaining up to 7 mW of 5.06 µm output with 17% slope efficiency at room temperature.