3～5 μm中红外激光器在环境污染检测、医疗、工业等领域具有重要的应用价值。本文总结了基于ZnGeP2、MgO∶PPLN晶体的光参量振荡器(OPO)的国内外发展现状, 分析了其各自不同结构系统设计的优势和发展前景。指出高功率、小体积、轻重量的光学参量振荡器是未来重要发展方向, 发展的技术核心是生长更大尺寸的中红外激光晶体以及研制更高性能指标的OPO泵浦源, 并对中红外激光器的发展趋势进行了展望。

Applications of 3～5 μm mid-infrared lasers in many fields such as environmental pollution detection, medical treatment and industry are introduced. The development of typical mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator(OPO) based on ZnGeP2 and MgO∶PPLN at home and abroad is summarized in this paper, and the respective advantages and development prospects with different structure of the lasers designed on the two crystals are analyzed. It is indicated that high power and small size OPO is a significant developing direction in the future, and bigger-size infrared crystal and higher performance index of pump sources are the core of the development of OPO. Finally, the development trend of the mid-infrared laser is forecast.