Open AccessHigh-pulse-energy mid-infrared laser source based on optical parametric amplification in ZnGeP_2
Author(s) -
Magnus W. Haakestad,
Gunnar Arisholm,
E. Lippert,
Stéphane Nicolas,
Gunnar Rustad,
Knut Stenersen
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.014263
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , laser , infrared , amplifier , wavelength , optical parametric amplifier , pulse duration , laser beam quality , optoelectronics , optical amplifier , regenerative amplification , laser beams , physics , cmos
Nonlinear optical conversion of 1.064 microm pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to the mid-infrared is demonstrated. The experimental setup is based on a two-stage master-oscillator/power-amplifier (MOPA) design with a KTiOPO(4) based MOPA in the first stage and a KTiOAsO(4)/ZnGeP(2) based MOPA in the second stage. The setup can be tuned to provide output at 8 microm or in the 3-5 microm wavelength region. We obtain more than 8 mJ at 8 microm, and up to 33 mJ at 3-5 microm. The measured beam quality factors are in the range M(2) =2-4 for both wavelength regions.