title: Difference Frequency Generation of 5-18 mum in a AgGaSe(2) Crystal.
abstract: Mid-infrared radiation in the 5-18-mum range has been obtained by difference frequency generation in a AgGaSe(2) crystal by pumping with the output of a type I LiNbO(3) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). Here we suggest the use of a LiTaO(3) retarder to achieve an orthogonal state of polarization between OPO outputs that are necessary for efficient pumping of a AgGaSe(2) crystal. Several tens of kilowatts of peak power near 8 mum and continuously tunable operation in the above range have been obtained.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Abedin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Takyu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito