Sum and difference frequency generation of white light continuum with the ps pulses of Nd+3:YAG laser in a thick BBO crystal

The white light continuum (WLC) generated in water/D2O mixture by pumping with the fundamental of ps Nd+3:YAG laser has been used as a variable frequency source for the sum frequency generation as well as for its amplification. 35 ps long pulses with 8 mJ energy at 1064 nm were mixed collinearly with the WLC generated by the same laser beam in a 20 mm thick BBO crystal. The obtained tunable output has been identified as the sum frequency between the fundamental and a portion of the WLC with the required phase matching. Theoretical simulations are also given along with a few initial experiments to use this combination for the difference frequency generation (optical parametric amplification) under non-collinear geometry.