Sum-frequency generation of 133 mJ, 270 ps laser pulses at 266 nm in LBO crystals

Abstract

We demonstrate the generation of high-energy (133 mJ) and sub-nanosecond (∼270 ps) deep ultraviolet (DUV) pulses at 266 nm by sum-frequency mixing in LiB3O5 (LBO) crystals. The highest 133 mJ pulse energy ever reported corresponds to a peak power of 0.49 GW and an energy conversion efficiency of 13.3% from the infrared at 1064 nm to DUV at 266 nm. This is the highest output energy ever reported for the DUV sub-nanosecond pulses to the best of our knowledge. Higher energy efficiency of 25.7% can be achieved from 1064 nm to 266 nm when the fundamental energy was reduced to 346 mJ. Furthermore, the DUV generations using LBO and typical β-BaB2O4 (BBO) crystals were compared regarding the energy efficiency, and the effects of the nonlinear absorption are discussed.