Period and temperature tuning of cascaded opticalparametric oscillator based on periodically poled LiNbO3

We report the broadly tunable source by a cascaded optical parametric oscillator in the periodically poled LiNbO_3 (PPLN) with domain grating period and temperature tuning. The optical parametric oscillator was pumped by a passive Q-switched Nd:YVO_4 laser. Multi-wavelength outputs from visible to infrared were obtained. The temperature of the PPLN crystal changed within the range of 70－150℃ with different periods of PPLN. The tunable range covered from 433 to 1657nm.     

Angle-tuned signal-resonated optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate

We demonstrate an angle-tuned signal-resonated optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) pumped by a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser. 1499.8 - 1506.6 nm of signal wavelength is achieved at 140℃ by rotating a 29-μm period PPLN from 0° - 10.22° in the x-y plane while keeping the pump wave vertical to the resonator mirrors. Two pairs of the signal and idler waves of the same wavelengths can be achieved symmetrically for each pair of angles of rotation with same absolute value and opposite sign. Theoretical analyses on angle-tuned PPLN-OPO with pump wave vertical to the resonator mirrors are presented and in good agreement with our experimental results. It is also found that all interacting waves in the cavity (not inside the crystal) are always collineax for PPLN-OPO with the pump wave vertical to the resonator mirrors while phase-matching is noncollinear within the crystal.     

Infrared OPO temperature tuning based on periodically-poled lithium niobate

An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically-poled lithium niobate (PPLN) and pumped by 1064.2-nm laser is demonstrated, which can be conveniently tuned by the means of changing its operating temperature. The parameters of the set-up and experimental results are introduced in this paper. We adjusted the operating temperature from 80 to 250 ℃, the output wavelength shifted from 1485.4 to 1540.7 nm. The average of the shifts is 0.33 nm/℃.     

Tunable femtosecond near-infrared source based on a Yb:LYSO-laser-pumped optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate a widely tunable near-infrared source from 767 nm to 874 nm generated by the intracavity second harmonic generation(SHG) in an optical parametric oscillator pumped by a Yb:LYSO solid-state laser. The home-made Yb:LYSO oscillator centered at 1035 nm delivers an average power of 2 W and a pulse duration as short as 351 fs. Two Mg O doped periodically poled lithium niobates(Mg O:PPLN) with grating periods of 28.5–31.5 μm in steps of 0.5 μm and19.5–21.3 μm in steps of 0.2 μm are used for the OPO and intracavity SHG, respectively. The maximum average output power of 180 m W at 798 nm was obtained and the output pulses have pulse duration of 313 fs at 792 nm if a sech2-pulse shape was assumed. In addition, tunable signal femtosecond pulses from 1428 nm to 1763 nm are also realized with the maximum average power of 355 m W at 1628 nm.     

Fiber laser pumped burst-mode operated picosecond mid-infrared laser

We demonstrate a compact periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate(MgO:PPLN)-based optical parametric oscillator(OPO) quasi-synchronously pumped by a fiber laser system with burst-mode operation.The pump source is a peak-power-selectable pulse-multiplied picosecond Yb fiber laser.The chirped pulses from a figure of eight-cavity modelocked fiber laser seed are narrowed to a duration of less than 50 ps using an FBG reflector and a circulator.The narrowed pulses are directed to pass through a pulse multiplier and to form pulse bunches,each of which is composed of 13 subpulses.The obtained pulse bunches are amplified by two-stage fiber pre-amplifiers:one-stage is core-pumped and the other is cladding-pumped.A fiberized acousto-optic modulator is inserted to control the pulse repetition rate(PRR) of the pulse bunches before they are power-amplified in the final amplifier stage with a large mode area(LMA) PM Yb-doped fiber.The maximum average powers from the final amplifier are 85 W,60 W,and 45 W,respectively,corresponding to the PRR of2.72 MHz,1.36 MHz,and 0.68 MHz.The amplified pulses are directed to pump an MgO:PPLN-based optical parametric oscillator(OPO).A maximum peak power at 3.45 μm is obtained approximately to be 8.4 kW.Detailed performance characteristics are presented.     

Highly Efficient Continuous-Wave Mid-Infrared Intracavity Singly Resonant Optical Parametric Oscillator Based on MgO:PPLN

We present a compact all-solid-state cw mid-infrared intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator （OPO） that is based on a self-fabricated 1-mm-thick 40-mm-long doped MgO periodically poled lithium niobate （MgO：PPLN）. At a diode pump power of 15.6 W, the compact intracavity Nd：YVO4/MgO：PPLN OPO produced 1.9 W output power at 3.19μm, corresponding to conversion efficiency of 12.2% from the laser diode pump to OPO idler output.     

Frequency Stabilization of Pulsed Injection-Seeded OPO Based on Optical Heterodyne Technique

A frequency stabilizing system for a pulsed injection seeded 1550 nm optical parametric oscillator(OPO) at 20 Hz repetition rate is demonstrated.The optical heterodyne method is used to measure the frequency difference between the seed laser and the OPO output.Using the frequency difference as the error signal,a proportionalintegral controller in combination with a scanner is applied to stably match the OPO cavity length to the seed laser frequency.The root-mean-square(rms) error of the frequency discrimination method is 0.07 MHz according to a ‘frequency shifting-chopping-beat' evaluation.The frequency fluctuation of the frequency-stabilized OPO is0.29 MHz(rms),and the Allan deviation is less than 20 k Hz for averaging time of more than 3 s.     

Middle-infrared intracavity periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 optical parametric oscillator

A periodically poled magnesium oxide-doped lithium niobate (5 mol% MgO:PPLN) intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a diode-pumped Q-switched Nd:YLF laser operating at 1.047μm is reported. A broad continuous tunable middle-infrared (mid-IR) spectrum of 2.69-4.07μm is obtained by changing the crystal grating periods from 28.5 to 31.5 μm. When the diode pump power is 8 W,the intracavity OPO operating at a repetition rate of 10 kHz produces average output power of 0.42 W,corresponding to conversion efficiency of 5.2% from the laser diode pump to OPO idler output.     

Wavelength tunability of tandem optical parametric oscillator based on single PPMgOLN crystal

The theoretical analysis and experimental results of the wavelength tunability of a tandem optical parametric oscillator (TOPO) based on a single nonlinear crystal are presented.TOPO is a configuration wherein the signal laser is used as a pump laser to generate secondary optical parametric oscillator (OPO).The cascaded parametric interactions are achieved synchronously in a single-grating-period MgO doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPMgOLN).Tunable multiple-wavelength mid-infrared (mid-IR) lasers are obtained by changing the temperature of the crystal.When the PPMgOLN crystal with a grating period of 31.2 μm is operated at 148 ℃,the dual OPOs generate an identical mid-IR laser of 2.83 μm.The secondary OPO transforms into an optical parametric amplifier,in which different frequency mixing from the signal laser results in the amplification of the idler laser in the first OPO.TOPO is a useful configuration for multiple laser output,broad tuning range,and high-efficiency mid-IR lasers.     

Synchronously Pumped Femtosecond Optical Parametric Oscillator Based on MgO-Doped Periodically Poled LiNbO3

We report a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on MgO-doped PPLN synchronously pumped by a mode-locked Ti：sapphire laser. The wavelengths of the signal and idler are continuously tuned from 1100 to 1300hm and from 2080 to 2930nm, respectively, by changing the pump wavelength and the OPO cavity length. The maximum signal output power of 130mW at the wavelength of 1225nm is obtained, pumped by 900roW of 800hm laser radiation. This corresponds to a total conversion efficiency of 22.1%. The signal pulse duration is measured to be 167fs by intensity autocorrelation with chirped mirrors for intracavity dispersion compensation.     

可调谐PPLN中红外光参量振荡器失调特性

 通过对晶体进行周期调谐,实现了中红外参量光输出,在此基础上研究了晶体移动、腔镜偏转等对失调特性的影响。结果表明：由于PPLN通道的小尺寸波导特性和参量振荡特性,其失调特性不同于常规激光器。PPLN晶体沿不同轴移动的功率变化曲线有不同的特点,沿x轴移动的失调容限大于沿y轴移动的失调容限;腔镜的失调容限与腔镜偏转方向有关,腔镜横向偏转的失调容限大于纵向偏转的失调容限;PPLN晶体温度和通道对失调容限几乎没有影响。     

Frequency-agile kilohertz repetition-rate optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate

We report kilohertz repetition-rate pulse-to-pulse wavelength tuning from 3.22 to 3.7 mum in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). Rapid tuning over 400 cm(-1) with random wavelength accessibility is achieved by rotation of the pump beam angle by no more than 24 mrad in the PPLN crystal by use of an acousto-optic beam deflector. Over the entire tuning range, a near-transform-limited OPO bandwidth can be obtained by means of injection seeding with a single-frequency 1.5-mum laser diode. The frequency agility, high repetition rate, and narrow bandwidth of this mid-IR PPLN OPO make it well suited as a lidar transmitter source.     

Electro-optic spectral tuning in a continuous-wave, asymmetric-duty-cycle, periodically poled LiNbO(3) optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate electro-optic spectral tuning in a continuous-wave periodically poled LiNbO(3) (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). We achieve 8.91 cm(-1) of rapid spectral tuning, with a linear tuning rate of 2.89 cm(-1) /(kV/mm), by applying electric fields up to +/-1.5 kV/mm across the crystal while it is operating within the OPO. Intentionally poling the PPLN crystal with an asymmetric domain structure enables tuning, and numerical predictions closely match the experimental observations. The tuning is considerably larger than the typical operational bandwidth of the OPO, indicating that we are in fact shifting the gain curve of the PPLN crystal.     

Optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate driven by a diode-pumped Q-switched erbium fiber laser

We describe what is to our knowledge the first nanosecond periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) driven by a fiber laser. The source was frequency doubled by a PPLN sample before pumping a second, 20-mm-long, PPLN crystal. The OPO threshold was <10muJ, with pump depletions of as much as 45% and a tunable signal range of 945-1450 nm (1690-4450-nm idler range). We demonstrated 130-nm signal tuning by varying the pump wavelength and doubling crystal's temperature. Also, we achieved 15-nm tuning with all crystals at a constant temperature. The results demonstrate the potential of the fiber laser:PPLN combination for practical, versatile, and tunable sources.     

Tunable mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator with intracavity parametric amplification based on a dual-grating PPLN crystal

Intracavity amplification of the idler radiation of a nanosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is achieved within a single dual-grating PPLN crystal composed of a uniform-grating section followed by a fan-out grating section. While all the OPO wavelength-tuning capabilities are preserved, this configuration leads to a 60?% increase of the 4-??m idler power and a significant beam quality improvement when compared to a conventional singly resonant OPO.     

板条放大器同步泵浦的宽调谐MgO:PPLN中红外光参量振荡器（英）

搭建了Nd:YVO4/SESAM锁模激光器,采用LDA泵浦的Innoslab对其进行功率放大,最后同步泵浦MgO:PPLN实现了宽调谐皮秒中红外光参量运转。通过改变MgO:PPLN的温度和通道,实现了信号光1415~1557 nm、闲频光3362~4290 nm范围的宽调谐输出,其中最高的光光转换效率为17.5%。同步泵浦功率为16 W,脉冲重复频率为116.9 MHz时,同时获得1.33 W的1518 nm信号光和1.26 W的3558 nm闲频光输出。     

双共振准相位匹配光学参量振荡器的调谐特性

利用全固化单频Nd：YVO4激光器泵浦双共振难相位匹配铌酸锂连续光学参量振荡器，实验研究了该光学参量振荡器下转换光的调谐特性。通过改变PPLN晶体的温度及OPO的腔长，下转换光的调谐范围分别为189nm和175nm，通过改变泵浦光频率，信号光频率连续调谐375MHz。实验结果与理论计算值基本吻合。     

低阈值温度调谐PPMgLN红外光参量振荡

研究了温度调谐下周期极化镁掺杂铌酸锂晶体的红外光参量振荡特性。采用外电场短脉冲极化技术,在大小为7.0mm×50.0mm×1.0mm的Z切高镁掺杂(摩尔分数0.05)铌酸锂上制备出了准相位匹配光学微结构器件,极化周期为30.0μm。以输出波长为1064nm的声光调QNd:YAG固体激光器作为基频泵浦光开展了光参量振荡研究。实验表明:泵浦该PPMgLN晶体,实现了室温下低阈值红外光参量振荡产生,阈值功率仅为45mW(重复频率1kHz)。在泵浦输入功率为225mW时,有36mW信号光输出,转换效率达到16.0%,通过调谐晶体温度(20~180℃),获得了调谐范围为1503~1550nm波段的OPO信号光,实现了低阈值可调谐红外光的稳定输出。     

Synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator of congruent and stoichiometric MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate

A synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on congruent MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (c-MgO:PPLN) is reported. The system, operating at room temperature, was pumped by a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. The wavelengths of the signal and idler waves were tuned from 870 nm to 1.54 μm and 1.58 to 5.67 μm, respectively, by changing the pump wavelength, the grating period or the cavity length. Pumped by 1.1 W of 755 nm laser radiation, the OPO generated 310 mW of 1080 nm radiation. This signal output corresponds to a total conversion efficiency of 50%. Without dispersion compensation the OPO generated phase-modulated signal pulses of 200 fs duration. Besides the OPO of c-MgO:PPLN, an OPO of stoichiometric (s) MgO:PPLN was investigated. Because of the reduced sensitivity to photorefractive damage, both crystals allowed efficient OPO operation at room temperature. Received: 19 August 2002 / Revised version: 11 December 2002 / Published online: 19 March 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-631/205-3906, E-mail: andres@physik.uni-kl.de     

Fabrication of periodically poled lithium niobate chips for optical parametric oscillators

An electric-field poling process was established that yielded uniform periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) in 0.5 mm thick lithium niobate substrate. We have fabricated 50 mm long fanned as well as multigrating PPLNs having period variations from 25 μm to 32 μm. These PPLNs are required for quasi-phase-matched (QPM) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) applications. We have also configured a bench-top OPO set-up based on these PPLNs.