Patent ID: 6960486

Claim:
A method for constructing and using a transition metal doped laser media comprising the steps of: a. forming a crystal of a thickness sufficient for use as a microchip lasing material, where the crystal is selected from the structures of MeZ and MeX 2 Z 4 , wherein Me is selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cd, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Hg, and Pb; Z is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, O and their mixtures; and X being selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, and Al; b. depositing a thin film layer of a transition metal on opposing faces of said crystal by a method selected from the group of pulsed laser deposition, cathode arc deposition, and plasma sputtering; c. annealing said crystal in an oven for a period and at a temperature sufficient to allow crystal doping by transition metal diffusion and replacement in selected regions of said crystal.