POWER AND LINEWIDTH OF TUNABLE STIMULATED FAR-INFRARED EMISSION IN LiNbO3

Abstract

The power-versus-wavelength characteristic for a high-power, continuously tunable far-infrared source has been experimentally determined and compared with theory. Utilizing a Q-switched ruby laser as the pump and stimulated polariton scattering in the crystal LiNbO3 as the scattering mechanism, peak powers outside the crystal of ∼ 3 W at 200 μ are observed without crystal damage. Linewidth measurements indicate a bandwidth of < 0.5 cm−1 for the radiation over the observed tuning range 66–200 μ.