title: Octave-spanning coherent mid-IR generation via adiabatic difference frequency conversion.
abstract: We demonstrate efficient downconversion of a near-IR broadband optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) pulse to a 1.1-octave-spanning mid-IR pulse (measured at -10 dB of peak) via a single nonlinearly and adiabatically chirped quasi-phase-matching grating in magnesium oxide doped lithium niobate. We report a spectrum spanning from 2 to 5 μm and obtained by near full photon number conversion of μJ-energy OPCPA pulses spanning 680-870 nm mixed with a narrowband 1047-nm pulse. The conversion process is shown to be robust for various input broadband OPA pulses and suitable for post-amplification conversion for many near-IR systems.
authors: Haim
authors: H
authors: Suchowski
authors: Peter R
authors: PR
authors: Krogen
authors: Shu-Wei
authors: SW
authors: Huang
authors: Franz X
authors: FX
authors: Kärtner
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Moses