Comparison of 4.5–6 μm luminescent and lasing properties of rare earth dopants in chalcogenide glasses

Recently rare earth doped high purity chalcogenide glasses exhibited laser action in the mid-infrared. New laser transitions of Tb3+, Pr3+ and Ce3+ ions were demonstrated. Output energies up to 35 mJ were already obtained. This paper compares the properties of Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Tb3+ and Dy3+ doped selenide glasses in order to reveal their laser potential for bulk and fiber lasers emitting in the 4.5–6 μm spectral range.