초록 ▼

Laser diode pumped mid-IR wavelength sources include at least one high power, near-IR wavelength, injection and/or sources wherein one or both of such sources may be tunable providing a pump wave output beam to a quasi-phase matched (QPM) nonlinear frequency mixing (NFM) device. The NFM device may b

Laser diode pumped mid-IR wavelength sources include at least one high power, near-IR wavelength, injection and/or sources wherein one or both of such sources may be tunable providing a pump wave output beam to a quasi-phase matched (QPM) nonlinear frequency mixing (NFM) device. The NFM device may be a difference frequency mixing (DFM) device or an optical parametric oscillation (OPO) device. Wavelength tuning of at least one of the sources advantageously provides the ability for optimizing pump or injection wavelengths to match the QPM properties of the NFM device enabling a broad range of mid-IR wavelength selectivity. Also, pump powers are gain enhanced by the addition of a rare earth amplifier or oscillator, or a Raman/Brillouin amplifier or oscillator between the high power source and the NFM device. Further, polarization conversion using Raman or Brillouin wavelength shifting is provided to optimize frequency conversion efficiency in the NFM device.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A pumped mid-IR wavelength source comprising:a first source for providing a first near-IR wavelength of light,a second source for providing a second near-IR wavelength of light,means to tune the wavelength of at least one of said sources,a nonlinear frequency mixing dev

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A pumped mid-IR wavelength source comprising:a first source for providing a first near-IR wavelength of light,a second source for providing a second near-IR wavelength of light,means to tune the wavelength of at least one of said sources,a nonlinear frequency mixing device optically coupled to receive said first and second wavelengths of light and produce a third wavelength of light tunable within a mid-IR wavelength range via said at least one source, said nonlinear device having at least one periodic pattern of domain inversions with different pattern periods, andmeans for moving said nonlinear frequency device to change the pattern period of said device in combination with tuning via said at least one source so that the third wavelength of light is selected within a range of mid-IR wavelengths between about 2 .mu.m and 5 .mu.m.