Low-pump-threshold tunable optical parametric oscillator using periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3

We fabricated and characterized periodically poled MgO:LiNbO₃ device with five gratings in 0.5 μm increments from 29 μm to 31 μm for optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO operation threshold is 30 μJ using this device with a 50 mm effective length. At 560 mW input pump power, we have achieved 300 mW of the total output power, and the conversion efficiency is 54%. Multi-periods and temperatures tuning of the OPO yields a signal wavelength range from 1.45 to 1.72 μm and an idler wavelength range from 2.8 to 4.05 μm in the mid infrared.     

Analysis of THz-wave surface-emitted difference-frequency generation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

It was shown that the periodically poled LiNbO₃-waveguide with period of poling λ≈λ/n_g (λ is the wavelength of emitted THz-wave, n_g is a refractive index corresponding to optical group velocity) emits THz-wave difference-frequency generation (DFG) in the direction normal to the surface of the planar waveguide. The 5% distinction between the manufactured and required periods of gratings results only in a small deflection (∼6°) of the output THz-beam from the normal direction. The dependence of DFG efficiency on mode size is analyzed. The output THz power at λ=150 μm is estimated as 2 mW, taking into account imperfections in coupling incident beams with guided modes. It was shown that the efficiency of THz-wave DFG in surface-emitting geometry is more than for collinear geometry in bulk crystal, especially in the high-absorption wavelength region. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 13 August 2001 / Published online: 2 November 2001     

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 tantalate for UV generation with diode lasers

Fabrication of periodically poled lithium tantalate (PPLT) with periods as short as 1.3 μm for second harmonic generation (SHG) in the UV range and for optical parametric oscillators pumped at 532 nm is reported. Both the maximum crystal size of up to 40 mm and the minimum poling period of 1.3 μm are improvements on earlier results, achieved by optimizing the poling conditions and by using a novel electrode design consisting of electrode structures on both surfaces of the crystal. Single-pass SHG of a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) diode laser with an output power of 1.36 mW at 336 nm using a 16-mm-long PPLT crystal with a 1.5 μm poling period is reported. Received: 11 June 2001 / Published online: 18 July 2001     

Mid-infrared trace gas detection using continuous-wave difference frequency generation in periodically poled RbTiOAsO4

A tunable mid-infrared continuous-wave (cw) spectroscopic source in the 3.4–4.5 μm region is reported, based on difference frequency generation (DFG) in a quasi-phase-matched periodically poled RbTiOAsO₄ (PPRTA) crystal, DFG power levels of 10 μW were generated at approximately 4 μm in a 20-mm long PPRTA crystal by mixing two cw single-frequency Ti:Al₂O₃ lasers operating near 713 nm and 871 nm, respectively, using a laser pump power of 300 mW. A quasi-phase-matched infrared wavelength-tuning bandwidth (FWHM) of ∼12 cm^-1 and a temperature tuning rate of 1.02 cm^-1/°C were achieved. Experimental details regarding the feasibility of trace gas detection based on absorption spectroscopy of CO₂ in ambient air using this DFG radiation source are also described. Received: 23 October 2000 / Revised version: 22 January 2001 / Published online: 27 April 2001     

The optimum configuration for the third-harmonic generation of 1.064 μm in a YCOB crystal

A method of determining the spatial configuration of a YCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (YCOB) crystal is introduced. The type-I phase-matching points for the sum-frequency of 1.064 μm and 0.532 μm, as well as the conversion efficiency for YCOB samples cut in different directions, have been measured. When the input intensity is 0.76 GW/cm², the third-harmonic generation (THG) conversion efficiency for the (106°, 77.2°)-cut YCOB crystal reaches 26.2%, which is the highest that we know so far. Both the calculations and the experiments show that the optimum THG configuration for a YCOB crystal is near (106°, 77.2°), or other equivalent directions in space. Received: 11 September 2000 / Revised version: 25 January 2001 / Published online: 27 April 2001     

Femtosecond pulse shaping in the mid infrared by difference-frequency mixing

The generation of programmable complex femtosecond pulses in the mid infrared (3–10 μm) with high precision is reported. Designed pulse shapes in the near infrared (1–1.6 μm) are transferred to the mid infrared via difference-frequency mixing with a second infrared pulse spectrally narrowed in a zero-dispersion compressor. In particular, pulse sequences with variable relative phases have been obtained. The control of the pulse properties is achieved purely electronically, allowing for implementation into a feedback loop. Received: 12 December 2003 / Published online: 3 April 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-89/32905-200, E-mail: mcm@mpq.mpg.de     

Type-I non-critically phase-matched second-harmonic generation in Gd1-xYxCa4O(BO3)3

Second-harmonic generation was z-cut observed Gd_1-xY_xCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (Gd_1-xY_xCOB) and the dependence of the phase-matching wavelength on the mixing ratio x has been investigated. The dependence on both temperature and angle tuning was examined as well. We found the suitable composition for noncritical frequency doubling at 930 nm, which is the lasing wavelength of Nd:YAlO₃ on the ⁴F_3/2?⁴I_9/2 transition. Received: 19 April 1999 / Published online: 5 May 1999     

Dispersion of second-order nonlinear optical coefficient

A simple, approximate relation between the dispersion of the second-order nonlinear optical (SNLO) coefficient and first-order susceptibility has been derived using the well-known results of density-matrix calculation of quantum-mechanical theory. A new tensor of SNLO coefficient has been defined, which retains symmetries when the input beams are in the spectral range of transparency while the generated beam can also be in the spectral range of absorption. The validity of the relation has been checked for three ferroelectric crystals, KTP, LiNbO₃ and KNbO₃, which are transparent in the visible and near infrared, and for two semiconductors, GaP and GaAs, which absorb in the visible. Contrary to Miller’s law, the presented relation is in good agreement with measurements. Received: 8 February 2001 / Revised version: 2 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001     

Threshold for strong thermal dephasing in periodically poled KTP in external cavity frequency doubling

We present a measurement series of the efficiency of periodically poled KTP used for second-harmonic generation in an external phase-locked cavity. Due to the high absorption (0.01 cm⁻¹) in the PPKTP crystal at the pump wavelength a strong thermal dephasing of the periodically poled grating is observed for high pump powers. For four different resonator setups, it was experimentally found that a threshold parameter could be defined as the ratio between the focal intensity in the crystal and the single-pass conversion efficiency. The value of this threshold for the onset of strong thermal dephasing was found to be 1.41×10¹⁰ W² m⁻² in our 30-mm long PPKTP sample. This threshold parameter marks the onset of thermally induced instability that leads to a degradation of the SHG conversion efficiency. Above the threshold the shape of the resonance peaks of the resonator changed from symmetrical into triangular making phase locking difficult.     

An all-solid-state laser system for generation of 100 μJ femtosecond pulses near 625 nm at 1 kHz

Frequency doubling the output of a high-power femtosecond Cr:forsterite regenerative amplifier with >50% conversion efficiency in a temperature-tuned noncritically phase-matched LBO crystal produces femtosecond pulses of >100 μJ energy in the visible range near 625 nm at a pulse duration of about 200 fs or >65 μJ at <170 fs. Received: 29 March 1999 / Revised version: 27 April 1999 / Published online: 24 June 1999     

Bandwidth enhancement and response flattening of cascaded sum- and difference-frequency generation-based wavelength conversion

We investigate bandwidth enhancement and response flattening of wavelength conversion based on cascaded sum-frequency generation and difference-frequency generation (SFG/DFG) in quasi-phase-matched periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides by use of two pump lights. Analysis shows that the conversion properties deeply depend on the pump settings. The bandwidth is efficiently enhanced by augmenting the pump wavelength difference. The critical bandwidth corresponding to the response fluctuation of 1 dB in a 3-cm-long waveguide reaches 80-90 nm, which is enough to cover the entire conventional-band and long-wavelength-band. The cascaded SFG/DFG bandwidth is about 24% broader than that of the cascaded second-harmonic generation and difference-frequency generation-based configuration with the same waveguide length. However, the response fluctuation is also enhanced together with the bandwidth enhancement. The method of pump detuning is presented to flatten the response fluctuation. The fluctuation is reduced by more than 1 dB and it can be further reduced by increasing the pump detuning value with a little efficiency penalty.     

Generation of 840 mW of red light by frequency doubling a diode-pumped 1342 nm Nd:YVO4 laser with periodically-poled LiTaO3

We report an efficient generation of red light in a periodically-poled LiTaO₃ (PPLT) crystal by extracavity single-pass frequency doubling of a diode-pumped, Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser at 1342 nm. The sample used in the experiment is 20 mm in length and 14.77 μm in period. An average power of 840 mW of the 671 nm red light is obtained with a 808 nm pump of 12.3 W, the overall optical-to-optical efficiency being 6.8%. The measured effective nonlinear coefficient of the sample is ∼3.8 pm/V. The high conversion efficiency and output power demonstrate that the periodically-poled crystal serving as a frequency conversion device may be used in practice to construct an all-solid-state red laser based on an extracavity single-pass quasi-continuous scheme. Received: 17 September 2001 / Revised version: 23 January 2002 / Published online: 8 May 2002     

Second-harmonic generation in Zn-diffused periodically poled LiNbO3 channel waveguides

In this work second-harmonic generation by quasi-phase matching (QPM) in Zn-diffused periodically poled lithium niobate channel waveguides is presented. A stable TM?TE conversion by QPM has been found. The results are in good accordance with theoretical estimations obtained by the phase-matching condition, either for the polarisation character of the second-harmonic wave as well as for the spectral range, taking into account the periodicity of the domains. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 7 September 2001 / Published online: 30 October 2001     

Narrow-band terahertz wave generation and detection in one periodically poled lithium niobate crystal

In this article, we present studies on therahertz (THz) wave generation and frequency up-conversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. A frequency at 1.37 THz was generated as femtosecond pump pulses passed through a PPLN crystal with grating periods of 30 μm. The pump-induced THz wave interacts with the probe wave in the crystal by frequency mixing. The frequency up-converted THz wave is easily detected by a normal photodiode. A new scheme for generation and detection of THz wave in one non-linear crystal was proposed.     

Mapping of periodically poled crystals via spontaneous parametric down-conversion

A new method for characterization of periodically poled crystals is developed based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The method is demonstrated on crystals of Y:LiNbO₃, Mg:Y:LiNbO₃ with non-uniform periodically poled structures, obtained directly under the Czochralski growth procedure and designed for application of 1.064 μmpumped OPO in the mid-infrared range. Infrared dispersion of refractive index, effective working periods and wavelengths of OPO were determined by special treatment of frequency-angular spectra of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in the visible range. Two-dimensional mapping via spontaneous parametric down-conversion is proposed for characterizing spatial distribution of bulk quasi-phase matching efficiency across the input window of a periodically poled sample.     

Power-boosted difference-frequency source for high-resolution infrared spectroscopy

We analyzed the spectroscopic performance of a difference-frequency source that utilizes a 5-W Yb-fiber amplifier for the “signal” radiation in order to increase the “idler” power generated around 4.3 μm. The amplifier is seeded by a monolithic-cavity Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The intensity noise spectral density of the “idler” radiation was characterized. Cavity-enhanced saturated-absorption spectroscopy was also performed to test the frequency resolution. In particular, we observed the Lamb-dip spectrum of the ro-vibrational (00⁰0-00⁰1)R(0)transition of ¹⁷O¹²C¹⁶O in natural abundance. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of that transition by the Lamb-dip technique. Received: 19 December 2002 / Revised version: 3 February 2003 / Published online: 16 April 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +39-055/4572-451, E-mail: mazzotti@inoa.it     

Phase effects at second harmonic generation in the layer media

An analysis is made of quasi-phase-matched interaction at second harmonic generation in a regular domain structure with accounts for losses and change of phases of all the interacting waves. The constant-intensity approximation of basic radiation is applied for this purpose, not to regular domain structure as a whole, but to each separately taken domain. It allows to carry out more strict analysis of quasi-synchronous interaction during the frequency conversion to the polydomain consisting of n layers, forming “grating” periods of modulation of the nonlinear susceptibility. With this, the values of complex amplitudes of basic radiation and second harmonic wave at the outlet of each domain are entrance values of the corresponding complex amplitudes to the following domain. The analytical expression is given for the case of n domains and the factors limiting the efficiency of the process of frequency conversion are analyzed. In the constant-intensity approximation, in contrast to the constant field approximation, the coherent length of domain depends on pump intensity. With increasing pump intensity the optimum length decreases. In a regular domain structure at frequency conversion from a layer to a layer, intensity of the basic radiation changes. Also the optimum length of domains at which conversion efficiency is maximal therefore changes. Thus, it is possible to obtain the high values of conversion frequency at the outlet of a regular domain structure by choice of optimum parameters of a task (length of domains, phase mismatch, pump intensity), as well as using the layers-domains of high quality.     

Second-harmonic generation of 405-nm light using periodically poled KTiOPO4 pumped by external-cavity laser diode with double grating feedback

A frequency-doubled laser diode system for generation of blue–UV light is described. The system is based on an external-cavity high-power laser diode with double feedback from the zeroth and the first orders of a diffraction grating. Light at 405 nm is generated in a single-pass configuration using periodically poled KTiOPO₄. We show that the double grating feedback improves the second harmonic conversion efficiency by several orders of magnitude as compared to the freely running laser. The conversion efficiency may be improved further such that higher second-harmonic powers may be generated.     

Efficient cascaded difference frequency conversion in periodically poled Ti:LiNbO3 waveguides using pulsed and cw pumping

Using an FM-mode-locked Ti:Er:LiNbO₃ waveguide laser as the fundamental source, wavelength conversion by cascaded χ⁽²⁾:χ⁽²⁾-difference frequency generation with a conversion efficiency of up to +3(-4.6) dB was demonstrated at a pulse repetition rate of about 2 (10) GHz. In addition, multi-channel conversion was demonstrated with a fully packaged wavelength converter using a continuous fundamental source. Received: 29 May 2001 / Revised version: 10 August 2001 / Published online: 2 November 2001