The generation of efficient tunable coherent near-IR radiation by temperature-tuned non-critical difference-frequency mixing in a LBO crystal

Abstract

Efficient tunable near-infrared radiation (NIR) (1.1-2.2 μm) has been generated by temperature-tuned non-critical phase-matched (NCPM) difference-frequency mixing of Nd:YAG and tunable dye laser radiation (560-710 nm) in a 5 mm LBO crystal. Energy conversion efficiency of 11% at 1.54 μm has been achieved. A large angular and spectral bandwidth is observed. Temperature-tuned type-II non-collinear phase-matching has also been reported. Comparison with other NIR-generating crystals shows that temperature-tuned NCPM in LBO is superior to other methods.