Efficient frequency conversion of CW mode locked tunable ps pulses in the visible and near infrared spectral region

We have shown that a CW mode locked NaCl:OH color center laser can be used to generate tunable pulses between 620 nm to 680 nm, 725 nm to 900 nm, and 2.6 μm to 4 μm by frequency mixing with ps radiation from a CW mode locked Nd:YAG laser. The pump laser for the color center laser itself can be used as the second source for the mixing process so that no extra ps source for the mixing process is required. Using a xz-cut KNbO₃ crystal 41° average output powers of 300 mW in the wavelength range from 620 nm to 680 nm and up to 50 mW in the wavelength range from 3 μm to 4 μm were obtained