Efficient difference frequency oscillator based on a Ti:sapphire laser

The problem of expanding the Ti:sapphire laser wavelength range by generating difference (sum) frequencies is discussed. The authors present a high-efficiency coherent radiation source, based on a Ti:sapphire laser and a nonlinear LiIO₃ crystal, operating in the spectral range from 0.34 to 2.3 μm. For this purpose a Ti:sapphire dual-wavelength laser has been developed where the process of self-synchronization of both channels has been realized. A difference frequency oscillator with 2w_s-2w_l and 2w_l-w _s, including the spectral range from 0.503 to 0.79 and from 0.83 to 2.3 μm, has been realized. A detailed study of the temporal characteristics of Ti:sapphire lasing is given, the development of methods for mixed pulse overlapping is discussed, and other subjects, such as configuration of widely tunable coherent radiation sources, are addressed