本文介绍了中红外固体激光器中新型的Fe2+∶ZnSe激光器和基于MgO∶PPLN、ZnGeP2晶体的光参量振荡器的发展现状, 讨论了它们在发展过程中遇到的技术难题, 探讨了中红外固体激光器的未来发展方向。波长为3~5 μm的中红外固体激光器具有效率高、体积小和重量轻等优点, 在工业、医疗、**等方面具有重要应用价值, 研制大尺寸、高质量中红外激光晶体和输出波长更长的红外高功率激光泵浦源已成为中红外固体激光器未来发展方向之一。

Mid-infrared solid lasers, such as new type of Fe2+∶ZnSe laser and Optical Parameter Oscillator(OPO) based on MgO∶PPLN, ZnGeP2 crystals, are reviewed in this paper. The scientific and technical problems of the mid-infrared solid laser are analyzed. The technical tendencies of mid-infrared solid laser are summarized. Based on the advantages of high efficiency, light weight and small volume, 3-5 μm mid-infrared solid-state laser sources have very important applications in the fields such as industry, medicine and military. The development of mid-infrared laser crystal with large bulk and high quality, and laser pump sources with high power and longer wavelength has become one of the developing trends for mid-infrared solid state laser in the future.