Frequency up-conversion of an infrared image via a flat-top pump beam

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that using a flat-top pump beam in sum frequency generation improves the fidelity of up-converted infrared images at 525 nm, enhancing detection and visualization with visible detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel flat-top pump beam approach for infrared image up-conversion, showing improved image fidelity over traditional Gaussian beams.

Findings

Flat-top pump beam enhances image fidelity.

Experimental and theoretical validation of the scheme.

Potential for improved infrared detection applications.

Abstract

The infrared imaging detection is an important and promising technology having wide applications. In this work, we report on the frequency up-conversion detection of an image based on sum frequency generation in a nonlinear crystal with a flat-top beam acting as the pump instead of a Gaussian beam, the up-converted image at 525 nm falls in the sensitive band of visible detectors and human eyes. Both theoretical simulations and the experimental results clearly demonstrate that using a flat-top beam as a pump can improve the fidelity of an image after the up-conversion compared with a Gaussian pump beam. Our scheme will be very promising for infrared image detection based on frequency up-conversion.