High-power and widely tunable mid-infrared optical parametric amplification based on PPMgLN

Abstract

We report on a high-power and widely tunable optical parametric amplifier (OPA) based on PPMgLN and pumped by a pulsed 1.064 μm MOPA laser. The operating wavelength of the OPA system is continuously tunable from 2.68 to 3.07 μm by adjusting the temperature of PPMgLN crystals, with average output power varying from 74.6 to 66.7 W for 310 W of pump power, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of ∼22.8% at 2.68 μm and ∼20.5% at 3.07 μm, respectively. Output beam quality factor (M²) of the OPA was measured to be <4 over the whole tuning range.

Passive Q-switching of ∼2.7 µm Er:Lu2O3ceramic laser with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror

“…3,4) Approaches to realize ∼2.7 µm lasing include semiconductor technology, stimulated transition of doped ions, and nonlinear wavelength conversion. [5][6][7][8][9] In terms of good beam quality and simple structure, the approach of stimulated transition of doped ions is highly desired. Among known ∼2.7 µm ion-doped lasers, Er-doped lasers operating on the 4 I 11=2 → 4 I 13=2 transition are widely studied since their highpower pump sources are commercially available.…”

Mid-infrared lightly Er3+-doped CaF2 laser under acousto–optical modulation

“…[4] For now, two common methods are used to acquire 3-µm laser: nonlinear frequency transformation technique (NFTT), and direct generation. [5] Generally speaking, the transition from 4 I 11/2 level to 4 I 13/2 level of Er 3+ ions is deemed as a proven method to obtain 2.8-µm laser. [6,7] Structurally, the direct generation method, compared with the other way NFTT, is much simpler.…”

5.4 W, 9.4 ns Pulse Width, Long-Wave Infrared ZGP OPO Pumped by Ho:YAG MOPA System

“…Due to the high conversion efficiency and wavelength tunability, nonlinear frequency conversion is an attractive approach to obtain mid and long-wave infrared laser [3]. Currently, nonlinear crystals suitable for producing high power mid and long-wave infrared laser mainly include MgO:PPLN [4], [5], CdSe [6]- [8], BaGa 4 Se 7 (BGSe) [9], [10], OP-GaAs [11], ZnGeP 2 (ZGP), and so on. Among various kinds of nonlinear optical materials, ZGP achieved the highest power of mid and long-wave infrared laser [12], [13], due to its high nonlinear coefficient (d 14 = 75 pm/V), high thermal conductivity, and acceptable damage threshold [14].…”