Kolev, Vesselin ZDuering, MLuther-Davies, BarryRode, Andrei V2009-05-272010-12-202009-05-272010-12-20Optics Express 14.25 (2006): 12302-123091094-4087http://hdl.handle.net/10440/340http://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/10440/340We propose a novel tuneable table-top optical source as an alternative to the free electron laser currently used for resonant infrared pulsed laser deposition of polymers. It is based on two-stage pulsed optical parametric amplification using MgO doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystals. Gain in excess of 10(6) in the first stage and pump depletion of 58% in the second stage were achieved when the system was pumped by a high-power Nd:YVO4 picosecond laser source at 1064 nm and seeded by a CW tuneable diode laser at 1530 nm. An average power of 2 W was generated at 3.5 μm corresponding to 1.3 μJ pulse energy.8 pages"OSA will grant the authors permission to deposit the publisher’s pdf from their Optics Express articles into the repository with the proper citation (reference number or journal /volume/page/year citation)." - from email received from Authorized Agent, The Optical Society, 27/05/10parametric oscillators and amplifiersfrequency conversionlaser materials processing2006-12-1110.1364/OE.14.0123022015-12-08