Random lasing of microporous surface of Cr2+:ZnSe crystal induced by femtosecond laser

We demonstrate a random lasing emission based on microporous surface of Cr2+:ZnSe crystal prepared by femtosecond pulsed laser ablation in high vacuum (below 5 × 10−4 Pa). The scanning electron microscope results show that there are a mass of micropores with an average size of ∼13 μm and smaller ones with ∼1.2 μm on the surface of Cr2+:ZnSe crystal. The adjacent micropore spacing of the smaller micropores ranges from 1 μm to 5 μm. Under 1750 nm excitation of Nd:YAG (355 nm) pumped optical parametric oscillator, a random lasing emission with center wavelength of 2350 nm and laser-like threshold of 0.3 mJ/pulse is observed. The emission lifetime of 2350 nm laser reduces from 800 ns to 30 ns as the pump energy increases above threshold. The emission spectra and decay time of smooth surface, groove and microporous surface of Cr2+:ZnSe crystal are contrasted. The optional pump wavelength range is from 1500 nm to 1950 nm, which in accordance with the optical absorption property of Cr2+:ZnSe crystal. The peak position of excitation spectra is almost identical to the strongest absorption wavelength.