With growing interest in the mid‐infrared spectral region, dysprosium has recently been revisited for efficient high‐performance infrared source development. Despite historically receiving less attention than other rare earth ions, in recent years lasers utilizing the dysprosium ion as the laser material have set record mid‐infrared performance, including tunability from 2.8 to 3:4 µm (in addition to 4:3 µm lasing), continuous wave powers exceeding 10 W, greater than 73% slope efficiencies, and even ultrafast pulsed operation. Herein, the unique energy level structure and spectroscopy of the dysprosium ion are examined and the major developments that have led to this resurgence of interest and subsequent record mid‐infrared laser performance are surveyed. Also mid‐infrared applications of emerging dysprosium lasers are highlighted, in addition to surveying the many opportunities that lie ahead.

中文翻译：

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Mid中红外激光器：现状和未来展望

随着对中红外光谱区域的兴趣日益浓厚，已被重新研究以开发高效的高性能红外光源。尽管历史上没有像其他稀土离子那样受到人们的关注，但是近年来，使用dy离子作为激光材料的激光器已经创下了中红外性能的记录，包括从2.8到3：4 µm的可调性（除了4：3 µm激光发射外） ，超过10 W的连续波功率，超过73％的斜率效率，甚至超快脉冲操作。在此，对examined离子的独特能级结构和光谱进行了检查，并对导致这种兴趣复兴以及随后创纪录的中红外激光性能的主要进展进行了调查。同时重点介绍了新兴的laser激光器的中红外应用，