Frequency Quadrupling
Definition: the phenomenon that an input laser beam generates a beam with four times the optical frequency
Alternative term: fourth-harmonic generation
More general terms: nonlinear frequency conversion
German: Frequenzvervierfachung
How to cite the article; suggest additional literature
Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
Frequency quadrupling is a process of nonlinear frequency conversion where the resulting optical frequency is four times that of the input laser beam, which means that the wavelength is reduced by a factor of 4. This can be accomplished with two sequential frequency doublers (Figure 1). Another possibility would be to use a single frequency doubler and two sum frequency generation stages for mixing with residual pump light, but that approach is not common.
A commonly used frequency quadrupling configuration begins with a continuous-wave or pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm for generating 532-nm light in a first frequency doubler stage (based e.g. on LBO = lithium triborate) and then 266 nm in a second stage (based e.g. on CLBO = cesium lithium borate). Such ultraviolet light is useful e.g. for pumping a dye laser or an optical parametric oscillator, for Raman spectroscopy in flames, or for laser material processing, e.g. the writing of fiber Bragg gratings.
Limited Lifetime due to Crystal Degradation
As explained in the article on frequency tripling, nonlinear crystals can be degraded by the intense ultraviolet light during operation. For frequency quadrupling, the correspondingly shorter UV wavelength can even increase such problems and lead to short lifetimes of crystals and other optics. Otherwise, similar aspects apply as discussed in the article on frequency tripling.
Suppliers
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 16 suppliers for frequency quadrupling devices. Among them:
Questions and Comments from Users
Here you can submit questions and comments. As far as they get accepted by the author, they will appear above this paragraph together with the author’s answer. The author will decide on acceptance based on certain criteria. Essentially, the issue must be of sufficiently broad interest.
Please do not enter personal data here; we would otherwise delete it soon. (See also our privacy declaration.) If you wish to receive personal feedback or consultancy from the author, please contact him e.g. via e-mail.
By submitting the information, you give your consent to the potential publication of your inputs on our website according to our rules. (If you later retract your consent, we will delete those inputs.) As your inputs are first reviewed by the author, they may be published with some delay.
Bibliography
| [1] | J. Reintjes and R. C. Eckardt, “Efficient harmonic generation from 532 to 266 nm in ADP and KD*P”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 30, 91 (1977), doi:10.1063/1.89300 |
| [2] | D. Bruneau et al., “Fourth harmonic generation of a large-aperture Nd:glass laser”, Appl. Opt. 24 (22), 3740 (1985), doi:10.1364/AO.24.003740 |
| [3] | B. A. Hooper et al., “Fourth-harmonic generation in a single lithium niobate-crystal with cascaded second-harmonic generation”, Appl. Opt. 33 (30), 6980 (1994), doi:10.1364/AO.33.006980 |
| [4] | M. Oka et al., “All solid-state continuous-wave frequency-quadrupled Nd:YAG laser”, J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 1 (3), 859 (1995), doi:10.1109/2944.473671 |
| [5] | J. Knittel and A. H. Kung, “Fourth harmonic generation in a resonant ring cavity”, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 33 (11), 2021 (1997), doi:10.1109/3.641318 |
| [6] | T. Kojima et al., “20-W ultraviolet-beam generation by fourth-harmonic generation of an all-solid-state laser”, Opt. Lett. 25 (1), 58 (2000), doi:10.1364/OL.25.000058 |
| [7] | T. Südmeyer et al., “Efficient 2nd and 4th harmonic generation of a single-frequency, continuous-wave fiber amplifier”, Opt. Express 16 (3), 1546 (2008), doi:10.1364/OE.16.001546 |
See also: frequency doubling, frequency tripling, nonlinear frequency conversion, ultraviolet lasers
and other articles in the category nonlinear optics
 |
If you like this page, please share the link with your friends and colleagues, e.g. via social media:
These sharing buttons are implemented in a privacy-friendly way!