Enhanced intrapulse difference frequency generation in the mid-infrared by a spectrally dependent polarization state

Q. Bournet (1) , F. Guichard (2) , M. Natile (2) , Y. Zaouter (2) , M. Joffre (3) , A. Bonvalet (3) , I. Pupeza (4) , C. Hofer (4) , F. Druon (1) , Marc Hanna (1) , Patrick Georges (1)

1 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Lasers
2 Amplitude Systèmes
3 LOB - Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences
4 Max-Planck-Institut

We present a technique to optimize the intrapulse difference frequency generation efficiency for mid-IR generation. The approach employs a multi-order waveplate that is designed to selectively rotate the polarization state of the incoming spectral components on the relevant orthogonal axes for subsequent nonlinear interaction. We demonstrate a significant increase of the mid-IR average power generated by a factor ≥ 2.5 compared to the conventional scheme, due to an optimally distributed number of photons enrolled in the difference frequency generation process.

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]

Q. Bournet, F. Guichard, M. Natile, Y. Zaouter, M. Joffre, et al.. Enhanced intrapulse difference frequency generation in the mid-infrared by a spectrally dependent polarization state. Optics Letters, 2022, 47 (2), pp.261. ⟨10.1364/OL.444908⟩. ⟨hal-03683868⟩