The talk reviews the recent works of the Laser Physics Group at NTNU on femtosecond waveguide lasers operating in the mid-IR wavelength range above 2 microns, as well as the implications this class of lasers may have for real-world applications and for future research, including quantum technologies. Recent progress in Cr²⁺:ZnS waveguides demonstrates laser amplification, frequency comb generation, and nonlinear conversion, targeting a miniaturized, ultra-stable comb spanning visible (<600 nm) to mid-IR (>5 μm) with intrinsic support for f–2f, 2f–3f, and related stabilization schemes. This requires balancing mode quality, amplification, and spectral broadening.
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