Mid-infrared tunable, narrow-linewidth difference-frequency laser based on orientation-patterned gallium phosphide

We report on the first characterization of orientation-patterned gallium phosphide (OP-GaP) crystals used to generate narrow-linewidth, coherent mid-infrared (MIR) radiation at 5.85 mu m by difference frequency generation (DFG) of continuous-wave (cw) Nd:YAG laser at 1064nm and diode-laser at 1301nm. By comparison of the experimental absolute MIR efficiency versus focusing to Gaussian beam DFG theory, we derive an effective nonlinear coefficient d = (1/2)x(eff)((2)) = 17(3) pm/V for first-order quasi-phase-matched OP-GaP at the generated DFG wavelength. Using d =(2/pi)d(14) and taking into account Miller's delta rule, we retrieve an absolute value of the d(14) quadratic nonlinear susceptibility coefficient of GaP of d(14) = 27.2(3) pm/V at 5.85 mu m, in good agreement with the latest absolute measurement of this nonlinear coefficient from non-phase-matched second-harmonic generation (1.32 mu m -> 0.66 mu m) taking into account multiple reflection effects [Shoji et al 1997 J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 14 2268]. The temperature and signal-wave tuning curves are also in qualitative agreement with a recently proposed temperature-dependent Sellmeier equation for OP-GaP when focusing effects are taken into account.