Eye Safety Implications of High Harmonic Generation in Zinc Selenide

Abstract

Polycrystalline zinc selenide (ZnSe) has been the subject of many nonlinear optics studies for wavelengths under 4.0 m including sum/difference frequency generation, harmonic generation, and filamentation. This letter documents a systematic study of the conversion efficiency of high harmonic generation (HHG) in ZnSe for mid-infrared wavelengths ranging from 2.7 m to 8.0 m. By using longer excitation wavelengths and higher intensities than previous studies, HHG through the twelfth harmonic is observed. The high conversion efficiency of mid-infrared to near-infrared light in ZnSe raises concerns of a nonlinear retinal hazard. We contrast the HHG behavior of ZnSe against the observed harmonic generation of calcium fluoride, BK7, and fused silica over the same wavelengths.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 29, 2019
Accession Number
AD1070461

Entities

People

  • Andrew. W. Wharmby
  • Christopher B Marble
  • Dawson. T. Nodurft
  • Sean P O'Connor
  • Vladislav V Yakovlev

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Eye Safety
  • Frequency Conversion
  • Lasers
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Near Infrared Radiation
  • Optical Materials
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Semiconductors
  • Visible Spectra
  • Wave Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.