Synchronously pulsed ir up-conversion

Abstract

The successful operation of a synchronously pulsed high-repetition-rate ir up-converter is reported. Using a 1.06-μm Nd:YAG pump laser and a proustite (Ag3AsS3) nonlinear crystal, 10.6-μm pulsed output from a CO2 laser has been up-converted to 0.964 μm with good conversion efficiency and high peak power obtained. Up-conversion efficiency of 0.84% has been achieved, which generated peak power outputs of 8.4 W at 0.964 μm. This was accomplished at a repetition rate of 133 pps. Under these conditions, the beam of the up-converted signal was easily imaged and clearly visible on an ordinary S-1 surface-image intensifier tube. Thus, real time imaging or electronic image processing of ir-illuminated scenery should be possible using this mode of operation.