Differencefrequency laser produces broadly tunable midIR output

Researchers at the University of Central Florida Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL, Orlando, FL) tuned the output wavelength of a diodepumped intracavity differencefrequency laser over 1.3 µm. G. J. Dixon of CREOL reports that the output of the CW source can be tuned from 3.1 to 4.4 µm at room temperature. This region is important for many spectroscopic applications and in the past has only been accessible with leadsalt diode lasers or complex researchlaboratory laser and optical parametric oscillator systems (see Laser Focus World, May 1994, p. 99).

Laserbased xy measurement system promises repeatability of 10 nm