The availability of new solid-state laser sources in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectral band prompts questions
about the utility of these lasers for free-space applications such as gated imaging and communications. We report here on
the development of such MWIR laser sources operating near a wavelength of 4 μm, based on laser media employing
holmium doping in crystalline hosts, and on the atmospheric propagation characteristics of laser radiation from these
new laser sources. Our analysis indicates that these novel laser sources are near a peak in the transmittance of
atmospheric water vapor, and suffer relatively low losses both from aerosol scattering and molecular absorption. They
also have certain advantages in the areas of laser eye safety and susceptibility to scintillation due to atmospheric
turbulence. We illustrate the potential of these new laser sources with field test results of a gated imaging system using
such sources for pulsed illumination.
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