Frequency conversion of mid-IR lasers into the long-wavelength domain of 12-20 µm with AgGaSe2, BaGa2GeSe6 and PbIn6Te10 nonlinear crystals.

Difference frequency generation under mixing of repetitively-pulsed CO- and CO2-laser radiation in AgGaSe2, BaGa2GeSe6 and PbIn6Te10 nonlinear crystals was studied. Efficiency and refractive indices were examined for this frequency conversion into the long-wave domain of ∼12-20 µm in the mid-IR. The highest frequency conversion efficiency of 10-4 was obtained for a relatively new PbIn6Te10 crystal, which is an order of magnitude higher than previous results.

Sum frequency generation of multi-line slab radio frequency discharge carbon monoxide laser system with intracavity nonlinear BaGa2GeSe6 crystal.

A compact repetitively pulsed broadband carbon monoxide (CO) laser system with intracavity frequency conversion, for which a nonlinear crystal was also used as an output coupler, was launched for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The laser system simultaneously operated in two spectral ranges: CO laser fundamental band (4.9-6.0 µm) and its sum frequencies band (2.45-2.95 µm). Different designs of the laser cavity were considered. Peak powers of the fundamental and sum frequencies laser pulses were up to 2 kW and 10 W, respectively.

Frequency tunable CO laser operating on the highest vibrational transition with wavelength of 8.7 µm.

A carbon monoxide laser emitting on the highest ever observed vibrational transition with a wavelength of 8.7 µm was for the first time launched. An influence of gas mixture content on the CO laser spectrum and factors limiting the longest CO laser wavelength are discussed.

Frequency conversion of molecular gas lasers in PbIn6Te10 crystal within mid-IR range.

PbIn6Te10 is a new mid-infrared (IR) nonlinear crystal with a very wide transparency range from 1.7 up to 31 µm. Calculated phase-matching angles show possibility of frequency conversion throughout the transparency range. Sum frequency generation of multiline carbon monoxide (CO) laser and difference frequency generation when mixing CO and carbon dioxide laser radiation were experimentally studied. Laser-induced damage threshold and frequency conversion efficiency under multiline CO laser pumping were measured.

Broadband two-stage frequency conversion of CO laser in AgGaSe(2) crystal.

For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a broadband two-stage frequency conversion of multiline CO laser radiation was theoretically and experimentally demonstrated in a single AgGaSe2 crystal. The first stage is sum frequency generation of CO laser radiation. The second stage is concurrent difference frequency generation within 4.3-4.9 µm spectral range when mixing sum frequency radiation with the pump radiation in the same AgGaSe2 crystal. Internal sum frequency generation efficiency of multiline CO laser was up to 1%, while internal difference frequency generation efficiency was up to 0.065%.

Frequency conversion of mode-locked and Q-switched CO laser radiation with efficiency up to 37%.

Frequency conversion of CO laser radiation was experimentally studied in ZnGeP(2) and GaSe nonlinear crystals. To enhance conversion efficiency, we applied a CO laser system "master oscillator power amplifier" with concurrent mode locking and Q switching. The laser system emitted ∼1-µs train of ns pulses. Internal efficiency of frequency doubling reached 37% in ZnGeP(2) crystal and 5% in GaSe crystal. Two-stage frequency conversion (including second-harmonic and difference-frequency generation) in ZnGeP(2) crystal under optical pumping by a selective two-spectral line CO laser was studied.

Cascaded carbon monoxide laser frequency conversion into the 4.3-4.9 µm range in a single ZnGeP2 crystal.

Collinear cascaded mid-IR frequency conversion in a single nonlinear optical crystal was accomplished. Concurrent collinear generation of the sum frequency of multiline fundamental band carbon monoxide laser radiation as a first frequency conversion cascade resulted in collinear difference frequency generation within the 4.3 to 4.9 µm spectral range when mixing this sum frequency radiation with the fundamental one as the second cascade in the same ZnGeP(2) nonlinear optical crystal.