RUBIDIUM TITANYL ARSENATE-SILVER GALLIUM SELENIDE TANDEM OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR

摘要

An arrangement (10) for efficiently generating tunable pulsed laser output at 8-12 microns. The arrangement (10) includes a laser (12), a first optical parametric oscillator (14) of unique design, and a second optical parametric oscillator (22). The first oscillator (14) is constructed with an energy shifting crystal (20) and first and second reflective elements (16) and (18) disposed on either side thereof. Energy from the laser (12) at a first wavelength is shifted by the crystal and output at a second wavelength. The second wavelength results from a secondary process induced by a primary emission of energy at a third wavelength, the third wavelength resulting from a primary process generated from the first wavelength in the crystal. Mirror coatings are applied on the reflective elements (16 and/or 18) for containing the primary emission and enhancing the secondary process. The second optical parametric oscillator (22) then shifts the energy output by the first OPO (14) at the second wavelength to the desired fourth wavelength. In the illustrative embodiment, the first optical parametric oscillator (14) includes an x-cut rubidium titanyl arsenate crystal (20) and the second optical parametric oscillator (22) includes a silver gallium selenide crystal. The first wavelength is approximately 1.06 microns, the second wavelength is approximately 3.01 microns, the third wavelength is approximately 1.61 microns, and the fourth wavelength is in the range of 8-12 microns.