Widely tunable long-wave infrared difference frequency generation with a BaGa4Se7 crystal

We report an experimental study of long-wave infrared difference frequency generation based on BaGa4Se7 crystal. The sources of two input wavelengths were the fundamental output of a Nd:YAG laser and its second-harmonic pumped ∼1.2µmKTiOPO4 optical parametric oscillator. A wide tuning range of 7.9-17.5 µm (>1.14 octave) was achieved, which reached the upper limit of the BaGa4Se7 transparency region. The spectra and pulse widths, input-output relationship, beam profile, wavelength tolerance, and angular acceptance of the phase-matching were characterized in detail. This presented coherent source can potentially be applied in multiple gas analyses and spectral imaging.