A new chalcogenide crystal for nonlinear optics in the infrared

Abstract

Currently available nonlinear optical materials for frequency conversion applications in the mid-wave and long-wave infrared lack one (or more) of the following desired properties: a large nonlinear coefficient, wideband spectral transparency, low absorption loss at convenient pump-laser wavelengths, high laser- damage threshold, reasonable chemical stability, good mechanical robustness, high thermal conductivity, low thermal index change, or bi-refringently phase-matched over an appropriate wavelength regime.