The authors report major improvements in the CW and pulse operation of the Co:MgF//2 near-IR laser. They have successfully grown high-quality MgF//2 crystals with relatively high CO**2** plus concentrations ( approximately equals 4%), which enabled them to obtain up to 31% energy conversion for TEM//0//0 operation. They obtained a maximum CW power of 1 W at 1. 86 mu m and 330 mW at 1. 55 mu m. These results represent an order of magnitude improvement over previously reported results. The tuni...