Continuous-wave, single-frequency intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator at 1.5-μm wavelength

We present a 1.5μm continuous-wave （CW） single-frequency intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator （SRO） based on periodically poled lithium niobate （PPLN）. The SRO is placed inside the ring cavity of a single-frequency 1.06μm Nd：YVO4 laser pumped by a laser diode. The device delivers a maximum single-frequency output power of 310 mW at a resonant signal wavelength of 1.57 μm. The signal wave could be tuned from 1.57 to 1.59 μm by temperature tuning of PPLN crystal over the range of 130 - 170℃.     

Stable continuous-wave single-frequency intracavity frequency-doubled laser with intensity noise suppressed in audio frequency region

We demonstrated a continuous wave(cw) single-frequency intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:YVO_4/LBO laser with 532 nm output of 7.5 W and 1.06 μm output of 3.1 W, and low intensity noise in audio frequency region.To suppress the intensity noise of the high power 532 nm laser, a laser frequency locking system and a feedback loop based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer were designed and used.The influences of the frequency stabilization and the crucial parameters of the MZI, such as the power splitting ratio of the beam splitters and the locking state of the MZI, on the intensity noise of the 532 nm laser were investigated in detail.After the experimental optimizations, the laser intensity noise in the frequency region from 0.4 kHz to 10 kHz was significantly suppressed.     

Continuous-wave mid-infrared intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate

This paper reports a continuous-wave （CW） mid-infrared intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate （PPLN） pumped by a diode-end-pumped CW Nd：YVO4 laser. Considering the thermal lens effects, it adopted an optical ballast lens and the near-concentric cavity for better operation. At the PPLN＇s grating period of 28.5 μm and the temperature of 140℃, the maximum idler output power of 155 mW at 3.86 μm has been achieved when the 808 nm pump power is 8.5 W, leading to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 1.82%.     

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.     

High-Average-Power Nanosecond Quasi-Phase-Matched Single-Pass Optical Parametric Generator in Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate

A pulsed nanosecond optical parametric generator (OPG) in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crysal is presented. The pump laser is an acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with the maximum average power of 6.58 W. When the repetition rate is 50kHz and the pulse width of the pump source is 80ns, the maximum average total output power of the single-pass PPLN OPG is about 1.9 W, which includes 1.322 W of 1.536μm signal radiation. The length of the PPLN crystal is only 38.7mm (at room temperature) with a grating period of 28.93μm (at room temperature). The 1.502-1.536μm signal radiation and 3.652-3.465μm idler radiation are obtained by adjusting the PPLN crystal temperature from 155℃ to 250℃.     

Theoretical analysis of periodically poled LiNbO_3 nonlinear mirror and its application in a passively mode-locked Nd:YSAG laser

In this paper, we report a passively mode-locked Nd∶Y_3Sc_2Al_3O_(12)(Nd:YSAG) laser using a periodically poled Li Nb O3(PPLN)superlattice. Nonlinear mirror mode locking based on PPLN intracavity frequency doubling was theoretically analyzed. The modulation depth of nonlinear reflectivity of the nonlinear mirror is approximately 8.8%. Optical performances of the modelocked laser including output power, radio frequency spectrum, and optical spectrum were experimentally investigated. An average output power of 710 m W with a slope efficiency of 14.6% was obtained at the pump power of 6.5 W. The repetition rate is 101.7 MHz, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the mode-locked pulse is 45 d B. The mode-locked pulse width was approximately 9 ps.     

Performance evaluation of ZnGeP2 optical parametric oscillator pumped by a Q-switched Tm,Ho:GdVO4 laser

A doubly resonant ZnGeP2 （ZGP） optical parametric oscillator （OPO） pumped by a novel Tm,Ho：GdVO4 laser was demonstrated. Cryogenic Tin（5 at.-%）, Ho（0.5 at.-%）：GdVO4 laser with high pulse repetition frequency （PRF） of 10 kHz at 2.05 μm was employed as pumping source of ZGP OPO. The 15-mm-long ZGP crystal, 55° cut for I-type phase-matching with low absorption coefficient less than 0.05 cm^-1 at 2 μm, was placed in a piano-piano cavity with resonator length of 30 mm. The ZGP OPO generated a total combined output power of 1.2 W at 3.75 and 4.52 μm under pumping power of 5.3 W, corresponding to slope efficiency of 40% from incident 2μm laser power to midinfrared （Mid-IR） output. A widely tunable range from 3.0 to 6.5 μm was achieved by changing the crystal angle only 3.5°.     

6.2-W deep blue light generation by intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:GdVO4 using BiBO

Efficient continuous-wave (CW) intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-end-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser operating on 4F3/2 - 4I9/2 transitions at 912 nm has been demonstrated. A symmetrical cavity with two laser rods is designed, which divides the pump power between the two laser rods, allowing for greater power scalability. An 18-mm-long BiBO crystal, cut for critical type Ⅰ phase matching, is used for the intracavity frequency-doubled laser. A maximum output power of 6.2 W in the blue spectral range at 456 nm has been achieved with the pump power of 36 W. The beam quality M2 value is 2.5 in both horizontal and vertical directions. The ellipticity of the deep blue laser is 0.98, and the power stability is better than 3.2% at the maximum output power.     

6.2-W deep blue light generation by intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:GdVO_4 using BiBO

Efficient continuous-wave(CW)intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-end-pumped Nd:GdVO_4 laser operating on ~4F_(3/2)-~4I_(9/2)transitions at 912 nm has been demonstrated.A symmetrical cavity with two laser rods is designed,which divides the pump power between the two laser rods,allowing for greater power scalability.An 18-mm-long BiBO crystal,cut for critical type I phase matching,is used for the intracavity frequency-doubled laser.A maximum output power of 6.2 W in the blue spectral range at 456 nm has been achieved with the pump power of 36 W.The beam quality M~2 value is 2.5 in both horizontal and vertical directions.The ellipticity of the deep blue laser is 0.98,and the power stability is better than 3.2% at the maximum output power.     

Frequency stabilization of a laser-diode-module-pumped single-frequency Cr,Nd:YAG laser

A single-frequency passively Q-switched laser was constructed,in which a co-doped crystal served as an active element,a mode selector,and a passive Q-switch simultaneously.In order to obtain the frequency instability of 10-6,a stable single-frequency operation was presented and its characteristics were deter mined.The experimental results showed that the stable single frequency could be maintained for half an hour and the linewidth was approximately 530 MHz at a pump power of 13 W.     

Frequency stabilization of a laser-diode-module-pumped single-frequency Cr,Nd:YAG laser

A single-frequency passively Q-switched laser was constructed, in which a co-doped crystal served as an active element, a mode selector, and a passive Q-switch simultaneously. In order to obtain the frequency instability of 10-6, a stable single-frequency operation was presented and its characteristics were determined. The experimental results showed that the stable single frequency could be maintained for half an hour and the linewidth was approximately 530 MHz at a pump power of 13 W.     

Improving frequency stability of laser by means of temperature-controlled Fabry-Perot cavity

The frequency stability of an all-solid-state Nd:YVO4 laser is significantly improved by means of a specially designed Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometer used for the frequency standard in the frequency-stabilizing system. The ten.peraturo of the F-P cavity is accurately controlled by a set of thermoelectric cooler (TEC) modules attached on th dy of the cavity and the electronic feedback circuit. We find that the long-term unidirectional frequency shift of the output laser, resulting from the slow increase of the cavity length under the effect of the temperature integration on the cavity body, is essentially eliminated. The frequency stability of the output laser with the power of 530 mW is better than ±200 kHz in 1 minute and ±2.3 MHz iu 40 minutes, respectively. The fluctuation of output power is smaller than ±0.5% over one hour.     

A Low-Pump-Threshold High-Repetition-Rate Intracavity Optical Parametric Generator Based on Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate

A low-pump-threshold high-repetition-rate intracavity optical parametric generator （IOPG） by using a periodically poled lithium niobate （PPLN） is reported. The PPLN, which is 18.7mm long and has a grating period of 28.93tzm at room temperature, is inserted in a diode-end-pumped Nd：YV04 laser with an acousto-optic Q switch. The parametric generation threshold is 1.3 W （diode laser power） at a Q-switch repetition rate of 19 kHz. At an incident diode pump power of 5 W, an average signal output power of 280mW has been achieved. The signal pulse duration is approximately 85 ns. By changing the crystal temperature from 120℃ to 250℃, the signal wavelength can be tuned from 1.493μm to 1.538μm.     

Compact, Low Threshold Nd^3＋：YVO4 Self-Raman Laser at 1178 nm

A compact low-threshold Raman laser at 1178 nm is experimentally realized by using a diode-end-pumped actively Q-switched Nd^3＋ ：YVO4 self-Raman laser. The threshold is 370mW at a pulse repetition frequency of S kHz. The maximum Raman laser output is 182 m W with the pulse duration smaller than 20 ns at a pulse repetition frequency of 30kHz with 1.8 W incident power. The optical efficiency from the incident power to the Raman laser is 10% and the slope efficiency is 13.5%.     

High power CW and diode-side-pumped Q-switched operation of a Nd：YAG 1319-nm laser

We demonstrated the highly efficient continuous wave （CW） and Q-switched infrared laser from a diode- side-pumped Nd：YAG crystal. A CW output as high as 66 W at 1319 nm was achieved under the pump power of 460 W, corresponding to a coversion efficiency of 14.3%. A maximum average power of 8.9 W of TEM00 mode was obtained in Q-switched operation at the repetition rate of 8 kHz. The performance of the laser considering the thermal lens effect induced by pump power was also analyzed.     

Pump-induced carrier envelope offset frequency dynamics and stabilization of an Yb-doped fiber frequency comb

In this paper, we demonstrate a carrier envelope phase-stabilized Yb-doped fiber frequency comb seeding by a nonlinear-polarization-evolution（NPE） mode-locked laser at a repetition rate of 60 MHz with a pulse duration of 191 fs.The pump-induced carrier envelope offset frequency（ f0） nonlinear tuning is discussed and further explained by the spectrum shift of the laser pulse. Through the environmental noise suppression, the drift of the free-running f0 is reduced down to less than 3 MHz within an hour. By feedback control on the pump power with a self-made phase-lock loop（PLL）electronics the carrier envelope offset frequency is well phase-locked with a frequency jitter of 85 m Hz within an hour.     

LD-pumped passively Q-switched red laser at 660 nm

A laser diode (LD) pumped Nd:YAG red pulse laser at 660 mn was presented by V:YAG passively Q-switching and LBO intracavity frequency doubling. With 1.6-W incident pump power, average output power of 46-mW, pulse duration (FWHM) of 23.3 ns, pulse repetition rate of 21.6 kHz, peak power of 91.4 W, and single pulse energy of 2.13 μJ were obtained. The beam quality factor M2 was less than 1.2. The fluctuations of pulse energy and repetition rate were less than 3% in 4 hours. The pulsed laser at 660 nm is expected to be used as the pump source of Cr3+:doped crystal to obtain the gain-switched tunable laser.     

Efficient continuous-wave eye-safe region signal output from intra-cavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator

We report an efficient continuous-wave (CW) tunable intra-cavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on the multi-period periodically poled lithium niobate and using a laser diode (LD) end-pumped CW 1064 nm Nd:YVO 4 laser as the pump source.A highly efficiency CW operation is realized through a careful cavity design for mode matching and thermal stability.The signal tuning range is 1401-1500 nm obtained by varying the domain period.The maximum output power of 2.2 W at 1500 nm is obtained with a 17.1 W 808 nm LD power and the corresponding conversion efficiency is 12.9%.     

Generation of intensity difference squeezed state at a wavelength of 1.34 μm

The intensity difference squeezed state, which means that the fluctuation of the intensity difference between signal and idler beams is less than that of the corresponding shot noise level(SNL), plays an important role in high sensitivity measurement, quantum imaging, and quantum random numbers generation. When an optical parametric oscillator consisting of a type-Ⅱ phase-matching periodically poled KTiOPO_4 crystal operates above the threshold, an intensity difference squeezed state at a telecommunication wavelength can be obtained. The squeezing of 7.7 ± 0.5 dB below the SNL is achieved in an analysis frequency region of 2.4–5.0 MHz.     

Low-threshold mid-IR MgO:PPLN optical parametric generation with high reflectivity mirror for signal wavelength

A low-threshold middle-infrared(mid-IR) MgO:PPLN optical parametric generation(OPG)pumped by a laser diode(LDl end-pumped Z-type Nd:YLF laser at 1047 nm is realized with high reflectivity(HR) mirror for signal.At repetition rate of 10 kHz,the OPG threshold of 50μJ has been achieved with HR mirror for signal.Compared with the threshold without mirror,the threshold decreases by 17%.Using HR mirror for pump at output side of crystal,the threshold of 40μJ is achieved.The 2.7-4.1μm continuous tunable output is produced with seven grating periods from 28.5 to 31.5μm and temperatures from 30 to 200℃.When the incident average pump power is 3 W.the OPG idler output power is 0.46 W at 3.26 μm,which corresponds to optical-to-optical conversion efficiency up to 15.3%.