Abstract

We describe a compact and efficient mid-infrared (mid-IR) source based on zinc germanium phosphide (ZGP) and cadmium silicon phosphide (CSP) optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), operating in near degenerate condition, directly pumped by a 1.94 μm thulium (Tm)-doped yttrium-aluminum-perovskite (YAP) laser. The Tm:YAP laser is passively $Q$-switched by a chromium-doped zinc sulfide saturable absorber, and is operated to 4 W average power with a peak power of 29 kW. The laser emission was used to pump CSP and ZGP doubly resonant linear OPO cavities, generating a maximum 3.5–4.2 μm mid-IR emission of 2.5 W for CSP and 2.3 W for ZGP, with maximum optical conversion efficiencies of 65% and 58%, respectively, achieved for the two OPO crystals.

© 2018 Optical Society of America

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