Parametric generation of tunable picosecond pulses in the medium infrared using AgGaS2 crystals

Abstract

Infrared pulses were generated over the range from 1.2 to 10 μm in a single path system consisting of two AgGaS2 crystals. A high photon conversion efficiency between 10−1 and 10−3 was found depending upon the emission frequency. A bandwidth of approximately 10 cm−1 for idler pulses between 6 and 10 μm was observed. With a Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet laser pump of 20-ps pulse duration one observes parametric pulses of 8 ps.