Ipg Photonics Corporation

Mikhail Mirov

Sergey Vasilyev

Igor Moskalev

Konstantin Vodopyanov

An optical parametric device (OPD), which is selected from an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) or optical parametric generator (OPG), is configured with a nonlinear optical element (NOE) which converts an incoupled pump radiation at first frequency into output signal and idler radiations at one second frequency or different second frequencies, which is/are lower than the first frequency, by utilizing nonlinear interaction via a random quasi-phase matching process (RQPM-NOE). The NOE is made from a nonlinear optical material selected from optical ceramics, polycrystals, micro and nanocrystals, colloids of micro and nanocrystals, and composites of micro and nanocrystals in polymer or glassy matrices. The nonlinear optical material is prepared by modifying a microstructure of the initial sample of the NOE such that an average grain size is of the order of a coherence length of the three-wave interaction which enables the highest parametric gain achievable via the RQPM process.

Optical parametric device based on random phase matching in polycrystalline medium

A Kerr Mode Locked ('KLM') laser is configured with a resonant cavity. The gain medium, selected from polycrystalline transition metal doped II-VI materials ('TM:II-VI), is cut at a normal angle of incidence and mounted in the resonant cavity so as to induce the KLM laser to emit a pulsed laser beam at a fundamental wavelength. The pulses of the emitted laser beam at the fundamental wavelength each vary within a 1.8-8 micron (&#x201c;&#x3bc;m') wavelength range, have a pulse duration equal to or longer than 30-35 femtosecond (&#x201c;fs&#x201d;) time range and an average output power within a mW to about 20 watts (&#x201c;W&#x201d;) power range. The disclosed resonant cavity is configured with a plurality of spaced apart reflectors, two of which flank and are spaced from the gain medium which is pumped to output a laser beam at a fundamental wavelength and its higher harmonic wavelengths. The gain medium is mounted on a translation mechanism operative to controllably displace the gain medium along a waist of the laser beam. The displacement of the gain medium causes redistribution of a laser power between a primary output at the fundamental wavelength and at least one secondary output at the higher harmonic wavelength.

Mid-IR Kerr lens mode locked laser with normal incidence mounting of polycrystalline TM:II-VI materials and method for controlling parameters of polycrystalline TM:II-VI Kerr lens mode locked laser

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Birmingham, AL, United States of America

Mikhail Mirov