• Improved CdGeAs2 crystal produces tunable mid-IR radiation at room temperature

    Researchers Konstantin L. Vodopyanov of Blackett Laboratory (London, England) and Peter G. Schunemann of Sanders (Nashua, NH) obtained efficient room-temperature generation of pulsed mid-infrared radiation in a cadmium germanium arsenide (CdGeAs2) crystal using difference-frequency generation (DFG) between signal and idler waves of an erbium-laser-pumped zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2) optical parametric generator. The output was continuously tunable between 6.8 and 20.1 µm. An improved Cd
    Sept. 1, 1998

    Improved CdGeAs2 crystal produces tunable mid-IR radiation at room temperature

    Researchers Konstantin L. Vodopyanov of Blackett Laboratory (London, England) and Peter G. Schunemann of Sanders (Nashua, NH) obtained efficient room-temperature generation of pulsed mid-infrared radiation in a cadmium germanium arsenide (CdGeAs2) crystal using difference-frequency generation (DFG) between signal and idler waves of an erbium-laser-pumped zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2) optical parametric generator. The output was continuously tunable between 6.8 and 20.1 µm. An improved CdGeAs2 crystal allowed the room-temperature frequency generation and was grown at Sanders by the horizontal gradient freeze technique. The maximum DFG conversion efficiency was 20% between 10 and 13 µm and exceeded 10% from 7 to 16 µm--corresponding to a few kilowatts of peak power. The 20% external conversion efficiency is equivalent to 39% internal conversion efficiency. Tunable sources emitting in this wavelength region are of interest for a variety of applications including spectroscopy, remote sensing, biology, and medicine.

    Sign up for Laser Focus World Newsletters
    Get the latest news and updates.

    Voice Your Opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!