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 term: 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 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.
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Suppliers
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 18 suppliers for frequency quadrupling devices. Among them:
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
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