A Review of Parametric Oscillators and Mixers and an Evaluation of Materials for 2 - 6 micrometer Applications
Abstract
A tunable source of narrow line radiation in the 2-6 micrometer band and, to a lesser extent, the 8-12 micrometer band would be useful in several military applications. Only recently have nonlinear optical materials become available to permit construction of optical parametric oscillators (OPO's) and mixers operating at these wavelengths. In this report, a review of the progress in wavelength coverage and output of OPO's and mixers is given, the theoretical performance of eleven nonlinear materials is discussed in detail, and as an example, the materials are compared for use in operating a singly resonant OPO in the 3-6 micrometer band. For this application, the outstanding materials are HgS pumped at 1.06 micrometers and ZnGeP2 pumped at 2.1 micrometers. Other material performances discussed are Ag3AsS3 (Proustite), AgGaS2, AgGaSe2, Ag3SbS3, CdGeAs2, CdSe, LiIO3, LiNbO3 and Tl3AsSe3. Refractive index data on the nonlinear materials and details of the FORTRAN computer program used in the calculations are included.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA002586
Entities
People
- Elgene R. Nichols
- John C. Corbin Jr.
- Vincent L. Donlan
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory