title: Optical parametric generation of a mid-infrared continuum in orientation-patterned GaAs.
abstract: We have generated an ultrabroad mid-infrared continuum by using single-pass optical parametric generation (OPG) in orientation-patterned GaAs (OP-GaAs). The spectrum spans more than an octave, from 4.5 to 10.7 microm, measured 20 dB down from the peak. The 17.5 mm long, 0.5 mm thick, all-epitaxially-grown OP-GaAs sample with a 166.6-microm quasi-phase-matching period was pumped with 3.1-3.3 microm wavelength, 1 ps pulses up to 2 microJ in energy. The OPG threshold was observed at 55 nJ pump energy with the pump polarized along the [111] crystal direction. The slope efficiency near threshold was 51%, and the external conversion efficiency was as high as 15%.
authors.affiliation: E. L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. pskuo@stanford.edu
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Vodopyanov
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fejer
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Simanovskii
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bliss
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weyburne