Broadly tunable mid-IR radiation source based on difference frequency mixing of high power wavelength-tunable laser diodes in bulk periodically poled LiNbO3

Abstract

Coherent mid-IR radiation throughout the 3.6 to 4.3 µm wavelength range is generated by difference frequency mixing (DFM) of wavelength-tunable laser diodes in periodically-poled LiNbO3 (PPLN). Mid-IR power levels up to 7.1 µW and DFM conversion efficiencies up to 0.015%/W cm are demonstrated.