Potassium Niobate and Lithium Niobate OPO's for Atmospheric Remote Sensing

Lithium Niobate has been the material of choice for OPO's used to generate mid infrared (2.5 to 4 μm) for atmospheric remote sensing by DIAL [1]. Such systems are capable of measuring a wide range of gaseous hydrocarbon species in the atmosphere. To a large extent the use of lithium niobate in theses OPO's has been a result of its widespread availability in large sizes and with good optical quality. Potassium niobate has always been a potential alternative which has the possible benefit of operating at longer wavelengths. Until recently, it has not been readily available in sizes or with the optical quality required for pulsed laser pumping. However, recent improvements in the growth and treatment of potassium niobate have made it a more realistic alternative.