Abstract

A growing demand for powerful laser sources operating in the 2–12 μm wavelength range has generated renewed interest in mid-infrared nonlinear optical crystals for use as optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) or second harmonic generators (SHG) pumped by solid-state and CO₂ lasers, respectively, II-IV-V₂ and Mil-VI, compound semiconductors, which crystallize in the chakopyrite structure (42 m), stand out for these applications because of their large nonlinear coefficients (among the highest of all known compounds), wide infrared transparency ranges, and intrinsic birefringence, which allows (in many cases) for phase matching.

© 1997 Optical Society of America