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Widely Tunable Narrow-Linewidth Continuous-Wave MIR Laser at 2.2-5.1 μm
Shuai Ye1,2, Feifei Wang3, Yongping Yao4
1State Key Laboratory of Chips and Systems for Advanced Light Field Display, Center for Optics Research and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
A novel mid-infrared (MIR) laser was developed using a periodically poled magnesium oxide-doped lithium niobate (PPMgO:LN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). This widely tunable, narrow-linewidth laser system demonstrates significant potential for advanced spectroscopic applications.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Nonlinear Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Continuous-wave (CW) mid-infrared (MIR) lasers are crucial for various applications, including spectroscopy and sensing.
- Achieving widely tunable, narrow-linewidth MIR sources remains a significant challenge in laser technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a widely tunable, narrow-linewidth CW MIR laser.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of a periodically poled magnesium oxide-doped lithium niobate (PPMgO:LN) based optical parametric oscillator (OPO) for MIR generation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a PPMgO:LN-based OPO pumped by a 1060 nm single-frequency fiber laser.
- Employed two multi-period PPMgO:LN crystals to achieve tuning.
- Measured laser parameters including tuning range, output power, linewidth, stability, and beam quality.
Main Results:
- Achieved a widely tunable MIR laser with a spectral range from 2250.7 to 5092.7 nm.
- Obtained output powers exceeding 520 mW (2250.7-4000 nm) and a maximum of 4.64 W at 2500 nm with 15.5% efficiency.
- Measured a narrow linewidth of ~0.41 MHz at 3300 nm and demonstrated good power stability (RMS = 1.43% for 8 h).
Conclusions:
- Successfully realized a widely tunable, narrow-linewidth CW MIR laser using a PPMgO:LN OPO.
- The developed laser system exhibits excellent performance characteristics, making it suitable for demanding applications.
- This work significantly contributes to the advancement of MIR laser technology.
