MIR difference-frequency generation in AgGaS/sub 2/ with diode laserr

Summary form only given. Difference-frequency generation (DFG) of two CW single-mode diode lasers with powers of 30 and 50 mW and an AgGaS/sub 2/ crystal with a cut for type I noncritical phase matching are used to set up a very compact and tunable diode laser system for the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range, which operates at room temperature. For sensitive recording of absorption spectra a thermoelectrically cooled IR detector, 2f-modulation spectroscopy, and lock-in techniques are used. The MIR-spectrometer has a geometrical size of 30/spl times/90 cm/sup 2/. The signal and pump waves for the DFG process in the AgGaS/sub 2/ are generated by standard diode lasers and the output wavelengths are centered at /spl lambda//sub s/=791 nm and /spl lambda//sub p/=682 nm. In theory this gives a tuning range in the MIR from 4.9 to 5.1 /spl mu/m by proper setting the temperature of the diode lasers and the nonlinear crystal.