Increased tuning range of Pb 1-x Sn x Se diode lasers using small magnetic fields

A Pb 0.96 Sn 0.04 Se laser diode emitting in the 815-835- cm -1 region with current tuning has been examined with applied magnetic fields at 7 kG and below. With increasing magnetic field the laser gain curve broadens, allowing more laser cavity modes (separated by 1.8 cm -1 ) to oscillate at a given current, and yielding a larger tuning range with current for each cavity mode. Using a combination of current tuning and a constant magnetic field, laser emission was achieved from 800 to 850 cm -1 with 90 percent coverage of the spectral interval.