Abstract

Recently, there has been considerable interest in the nonlinear material ZnGeP₂ because of its wide transparency range (0.74 ≤ λ ≤ 12.0 μm)¹, its large nonlinear coefficient (50 ≤ d₃₆≤ 110 pm/V),^2-4 and its high surface-damage threshold (30 GW/cm²)⁵. These properties make it eminently suited for efficient parametric devices in the mid-IR spectral region, as well as for efficient second-harmonie generation (SHG). We employed the powerful (~1-MW) short pulses (~1 ps) of the Free Electron Laser for Infrared Experiments (FELIX) to study SHG in ZnGeP₂ for mid-IR radiation over a wide wavelength interval.

© 1995 Optical Society of America