Single crystals of ZnSe/sub 1-x/ Te/sub x/, Zn/sub 1-x/Cd/sub x/Se, and Zn/sub x/Cd/sub 1-x/S solid solutions for electron-beam-pumped lasers

Single-crystal ingots of ZnSe/sub 1-x/Te/sub x/ (0< or =x< or =0.03), Zn/sub 1-x/ Cd/sub x/Se (0< or =x< or =0.15), and Zn/sub x/Cd/sub 1-x/S (0< or =x< or =0.35) with diameters up to 50 mm and height up to 20 mm were prepared from the vapor phase. Investigations were made of the cathodoluminescence emitted by these crystals and of the characteristics of the lasers made from them and subjected to longitudinal pumping with an electron beam. In contrast to the two other systems, single crystals of ZnSe/sub 1-x/ Te/sub x/ were unsuitable for semiconductor lasers emitting in the dark blue range because deep levels appeared in the band gap at low Te concentrations.