DIFFERENCE-FREQUENCY-GENERATION IN AGGAS2 BY USE OF SINGLE-MODE DIODE-LASER PUMP SOURCES

We explored the suitability of visible III-V single-mode cw diodes for difference-frequency generation of tunable infrared radiation by mixi ng a red single-mode cw III-V diode laser with a tunable single-freque ncy cw Ti:sapphire laser in AgGaS2. More than 1 muW of cw tunable, inf rared (lambda almost-equal-to 5 mum), narrow-band coherent radiation w as generated with type I noncritical phase matching. The wavelength an d output-power characteristics of this novel tunable all-solid-state l aser source are described, and we demonstrate the applicability of the source to high-resolution molecular spectroscopy by obtaining a test spectrum. The feasibility of a more compact solid-state cw laser spect rometer based on the mixing of two single-mode diode lasers (808 and 6 90 nm) as pump sources in AgGaS2 is shown (infrared power generated al most-equal-to 3 nW).