title: High-pulse-energy mid-infrared laser source based on optical parametric amplification in ZnGeP2.
abstract: Nonlinear optical conversion of 1.064 microm pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to the mid-infrared is demonstrated. The experimental setup is based on a two-stage master-oscillator/power-amplifier (MOPA) design with a KTiOPO(4) based MOPA in the first stage and a KTiOAsO(4)/ZnGeP(2) based MOPA in the second stage. The setup can be tuned to provide output at 8 microm or in the 3-5 microm wavelength region. We obtain more than 8 mJ at 8 microm, and up to 33 mJ at 3-5 microm. The measured beam quality factors are in the range M(2) =2-4 for both wavelength regions.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, FFI, Kjeller, Norway. Magnus-W.Haakestad@ffi.no
authors.forename: Magnus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Haakestad
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arisholm
authors.forename: Espen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rustad
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stenersen
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005857:Germanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005857:Germanium; D010758:Phosphorus; D015032:Zinc