Miniature sources of subnanosecond 1.4 - 4.3-μm pulses with high peak power

Microchip-laser-pumped optical parametric generators have been packaged in 10-cm-long × 2.5-cm-diameter stainless-steel cans. These devices convert the 1.064-μm output of the laser into radiation at preselected wavelengths between 1.4 and 4.3 μm with quantum efficiencies >40%, resulting in mid-ir pulses of <200-ps duration with peak signal powers >140 kW. The optical head includes a heater that can be used to temperature tune the devices over several 10s to 100s of nm.