Open AccessHigh-repetition rate, mid-infrared, picosecond pulse generation with µJ-energies based on OPG/OPA schemes in 2-µm-pumped ZnGeP2
Author(s) -
Moritz Hinkelmann,
Matthias Baudisch,
Dieter Wandt,
Uwe Morgner,
Kevin T. Zawilski,
Peter G. Schunemann,
Jörg Neumann,
Ingo Rimke,
Dietmar Kracht
Publication year - 2020
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.394732
Subject(s) - picosecond , optics , laser , materials science , infrared , optoelectronics , bandwidth (computing) , pulse duration , physics , telecommunications , computer science
We report on two different concepts to generate µJ-level mid-infrared laser pulses with sub-10 ps pulse duration via nonlinear parametric generation at high pulse repetition rates. Both schemes rely on the recent development of compact and efficient CPA-free, Ho:YLF-based 2-µm laser sources pumping the highly nonlinear crystal ZnGeP 2 used for parametric amplification. The first concept comprises a simplified OPG/OPA scheme efficiently producing signal and idler radiation at fixed wavelengths of 3.0 and 6.5 µm, respectively. In the second concept, we demonstrate a wide spectral tunability of the picosecond, µJ pulses over the entire tuning range between 2.5 and 12 µm maintaining a constant bandwidth of sub-20 cm -1 by integrating a two-color pumping scheme and a spectral shaper into the setup. The presented compact and efficient mid-IR picosecond radiation sources offer a way towards low-cost mid-IR material processing and spectroscopic applications.