Tunable coherent ir source based upon four-wave parametric conversion in alkali metal vapors

Abstract

A new type of near‐ir source producing a coherent output with a spectrally narrow (∼ 0.1 cm⁻¹) and continuously tunable frequency is described. It utilizes a four‐wave mixing process in alkali metal vapor with input beams provided by two nitrogen‐laser‐pumped dye lasers. Tunable output has so far been observed in the range 2–5.4 μ.