High peak power frequency conversion of visible light into near-infrared laser radiation using a nonlinear lithium niobate crystal.

Abstract

High peak power 10 ns near-infrared coherent radiation has been obtained from frequency conversion of a dye laser beam in a LiNbO$\sb3$ crystal. The observed tuning range spanned the 0.734 to 2.853 $\mu$m wavelength range. An examination of optical parametric oscillator frequency conversion revealed that the production of the monochromatic laser radiation at the signal wavelength was only obtainable for a limited portion of the accessible pump wavelengths. In contrast, optical parametric amplifier frequency conversion resulted in the production of bichromatic infrared radiation for the entire accessible pump wavelength range. It appears that the crystal pump acceptance bandwidth leading to reduce power conversion can be described by a model in which the signal wave is assumed to have zero bandwidth.