Dispersion properties of sulfur doped gallium selenide crystals studied by THz TDS.

High optical quality nonlinear crystals of solid solution GaSe(1-x)S(x), x=0, 0.05, 0.11, 0.22, 0.29, 0.44, 1 were grown by modified Bridgman method with heat field rotation. Ordinary and extraordinary wave dispersion was studied in detail as a function of sulfur content by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz TDS) in the 0.3-4 THz range using cleaved and processed (cut and polished) crystals. Suitable dispersion equations for different parts of the entire transparency range were derived, utilizing comparative analyses of the measured data, the available published data, and approximations in the form of Sellmeier equations. A criterion was proposed for selecting measurement results of adequate quality, based on the etalon patterns in the transmission spectrum.

Compact Radio Frequency Discharge-Pumped Slab CO Laser System with a Zinc Germanium Phosphide (ZnGeP2) Sum-Frequency Generator for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere.

Based on our experimental study of spectral characteristics of an improved compact CO laser system, the prospects of using such a laser system for solving urgent problems of atmospheric sounding were demonstrated. An increase in the number of laser lines due to intracavity generation of the second harmonic and sum-frequencies in a nonlinear zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2) crystal enriches capabilities of the laser. It was shown that such a CO laser system with frequency conversion in ZnGeP2 crystal can be used for detection and measuring concentration of at least 14 minor natural and pollution gases components of the atmosphere. The advantages and disadvantages of various laser operation modes, and the prospects for using its radiation for atmospheric remote sensing in various spectral ranges are discussed.

SHG in doped GaSe:In crystals.

Optical transmission range and phase matching (PM) conditions for second harmonic generation (SHG) of Er3+:YSGG and CO2 laser in indium doped GaSe:In(0.1, 1.23, 2.32 mass%) are studied in comparison with these in pure and sulfur doped GaSe:S(0.09, 0.5, 2.2, 3 mass%) crystals. No changes in transparency curve are found in GaSe crystals up to 2.32 mass% indium content, but as small change as 0.18 degrees in PM angle for 2.79 microm Er3+:YSGG laser SHG and approximately 0.06 degrees for 9.58 microm CO2 laser emission line SHG are detected. PM properties of the crystals are evaluated as a function of temperature over the range from -165 to 230 degrees C. The value of dtheta/dT, the change in PM angle with variation of temperature, is found to be very small for GaSe:In crystals. While for SHG of Er3+:YSGG laser, dtheta/dT =22"/1 degrees C only, it is as small as -4.9"/1 degrees C for that of CO2 laser radiation. Linear variation of PM angle with temperature increasing is an indicator of absence of crystals structure transformation within temperature range from -165 to 230 degrees C. Thus, application of GaSe:In solid solutions in high average power nonlinear optical systems seems to be prospective.

SHG phase matching in GaSe and mixed GaSe1(1-x)S(x), x < or =0.412, crystals at room temperature.

The optical properties of p-type GaSe and mixed GaSe(1-x)S(x), x=0.04, 0.023, 0.090, 0.133, 0.175, 0.216, 0.256, 0.362, 0.369, and 0.412, crystals were studied to reveal the potentials for phase matching and frequency conversion. Comparative experiment on Er3+:YSGG and CO2 laser SHG at identical experimental conditions is carried out at room temperature. Any change in polytype structure of GaSe1(1-x)S(x) was not found.

Wide-tunable, high-energy AgGaS(2) optical parametric oscillator.

Nanosecond AgGaS(2) type-I singly resonant optical parametric oscillator pumped by a Q-switched 1.064 mum Nd:YAG laser is demonstrated experimentally. Continuously tunable 2.6-5.3 mum radiation and output pulse energy up to 0.6 mJ at 4 mum are achieved in a single-stage conversion process. The analysis of pump threshold is investigated both theoretically and experimentally.