High power and efficient long wave IR ZnGeP_2 parametric oscillator

Abstract

A high power, efficient, and tunable laser source in the 8-10 microm range, based on a ZnGeP(2) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a hybrid 2.1 microm laser is demonstrated. The hybrid laser consists of a Q-switched Ho:YAG laser pumped by a 15 W CW thulium fiber laser. With 8.9 W of 2.1 microm pump power we obtained 0.95 W at 8 microm with an M(2)-value of 2.7 from an OPO with two walk-off compensating crystals.