(205) 934-8088, mirov@uab.edu
The promise of laser research is
exciting not only from the many applications, but because the physics of their
function is an expression of both nature and human ingenuity. Being able, at
will, to produce whatever wavelength and power from a single laser represents
the ideal goal. Recognizing practical limits our laboratory is dedicated toward
achieving as wide range of "color" in lasing as possible from
materials such as alkali-halides and impurity-doped alkali-earth fluoride
crystals prepared by exposure to ionizing radiation as well as transitional
metal doped wide band II-VI semiconductor materials. Long term research is
directed towards the development and investigation of novel vibronic
crystalline laser media as well as novel schemes for tunable lasers. We have
developed technology of room temperature stable LiF:F2+
color center crystals and constructed a solid state laser on their basis
that produces light from beyond 0.8 to 1.2 microns and with nonlinear
transformations from ultraviolet (0.2 microns) to middle IR spectral range (10
microns). We also developed technology of ZnS and ZnSe crystals doping based on
pulse laser deposition and subsequent thermal annealing of the samples,
manufactured and characterized dozens of
Cr:ZnS and ZnSe crystals with
good laser properties. The "blue-prints" of Cr:ZnS epitaxial
thin film technology was also developed. First CW and gain switched middle IR
microchip lasers on Cr2+:ZnS and ZnSe crystals were proposed and
realized. Slope efficiencies up to 53% with output power up-to 600mW for CW and
energy of 1 mJ for pulsed pumping were achieved. We designed and realized a compact, tunable over ~ 700 nm between 2170
and 2840 nm external cavity Er-fiber laser pumped CW laser yielding up to 1200
mW of output power and up to 40% slope efficiency. Laser based systems are
being developed for fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy of optical materials,
data telecommunication, for analysis of protein crystals being grown on the
International Space Station, rocks on Mars, and traces of metals that are toxic
components of environment. Biotechnical medical applications are pursued in
conjunction with the UAB nationally renowned medical center. The Nation Science
Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense, NASA and industrial partners support
these research programs.