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

Abstract

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.

Compact Radio Frequency Discharge-Pumped Slab CO Laser System with a Zinc Germanium Phosphide (ZnGeP2) Sum-Frequency Generator for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere

“…Also, the RF discharge-pumped slab CO lasers can operate in Q-switching mode emitting short (submicrosecond), high-power (several kilowatts) pulses that is preferable for the remote sensing application. In addition, the short high-power CO laser pulses can be effectively converted to the second harmonic or sum-frequency radiation in ZnGeP 2 nonlinear crystals, 12,17,18 which extends application of such a laser system. A mode-locking regime provides highpower nanosecond pulse generation 17 and should be more attractive for solving those tasks.…”

Formalisms, Analysis, Results and Accomplishments With Population Inversion of Materials

“…Analytical and numerical aspects (with or without the use of computers), regarding issues and problems of a general or specific nature and the application of a particular type of laser are the subjects of many references [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. In Figs.…”

“…Unified Algorithms and Beam Propagation Methods (MPS) determine the shape and non-Gaussian modes and simulate the properties in various representation or optimization tasks. The LASCAD software package, developed by Micro Systems Design (MSD), and Daimler-Benz, supports simulations for integrated and diode-pumped lasers on solid objects -DPLCT and various optical effects [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][50][51][52]. It runs under the Windows operating system and has developed software for the application on the thermal model, monitors the AM distortion, the design of microchips and more powerful lasers on the solid state LCR.…”

Q-switched slab RF discharge CO laser

“…Mainly, this is due to a specific vibrational kinetics of the active medium inherent for all electric-discharge CO lasers: the slow processes of population inversion formation and excitation relaxation do not allow one to extract quickly all vibrational energy accumulated by the active medium in the form of coherent radiation using freerunning mode of lasing. However, for some applications, such as frequency conversion of CO laser radiation in nonlinear crystals [6] or remote sensing, sources of mid-IR radiation with radiation pulses as short as possible and high peak power are needed. Such modes of lasing may be implemented in CO lasers only with Q-switching and/or mode-locking techniques.…”