Efficiency-enhanced mid-wave infrared beam generation at 3.8 um with a seeded optical parametric generator

Ziya Gürkan Figen

doi:10.1117/12.2066926

10 October 2014 Efficiency-enhanced mid-wave infrared beam generation at 3.8 μm with a seeded optical parametric generator

Ziya Gürkan Figen

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9251, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures XI; and High-Power Lasers 2014: Technology and Systems; 92510E (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2066926
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2014, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

In this paper, we model the performance of a device with a simple architecture for high-power mid-wave infrared beam generation at a wavelength of 3.8 microns. We believe that this device can be used as an efficient frequency converter for an infrared countermeasure source. The device is a seeded idler eﬃciency-enhanced optical parametric generator (IEE-OPG) based on an aperiodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO3 (APMgLN) grating pumped by a high-repetition rate nanosecond-pulsed 1064-nm laser and seeded by a low-power 1478-nm distributed feedback diode laser. In the IEE-OPG, two optical parametric ampliﬁcation (OPA) processes, OPA-1 and OPA-2, are simultaneously phase matched in a single APMgLN grating. The signal at 1478 nm is ampliﬁed and the idler at 3800 nm is generated as a result of OPA-1, the signal acts as the pump for OPA-2 and the conversion efficiency of the idler is enhanced as a result of OPA-2. Also, a difference-frequency beam at 2418 nm is generated. We characterized the device performance using a realistic model that takes the diffraction of the beams into account. We designed multiple aperiodic gratings with varying relative strengths of OPA-1 and OPA-2. For various crystal lengths, optimum relative strengths of the two processes and input pump power levels for achieving the maximum mid-wave infrared conversion efficiency and output power are determined. Efficiency-enhanced mid-wave infrared beam generating optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) based on AP- MgLN gratings were reported before. However, no attempt was made for the optimization of the relative strengths of the simultaneously phase-matched processes in these devices. Our model calculations show that it is possible to reach and exceed the mid-wave infrared conversion efficiencies of these OPOs by correctly choosing the design parameters of the seeded OPGs based on relatively long APMgLN gratings.

Citation Download Citation

Ziya Gürkan Figen "Efficiency-enhanced mid-wave infrared beam generation at 3.8 μm with a seeded optical parametric generator", Proc. SPIE 9251, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures XI; and High-Power Lasers 2014: Technology and Systems, 92510E (10 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2066926

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