Generation of broadly tunable picosecond mid-infrared laser and sensitive detection of a mid-infrared signal by parametric frequency up-conversion in MgO:LiNbO₃ optical parametric amplifiers

Picosecond optical parametric generation and amplification in the near-infrared region within 1.361-1.656 μm and the mid-infrared region within 2.976-4.875 μm is constructed on the basis of bulk MgO:LiNbO 3 crystals pumped at 1.064 μm.The maximum pulse energy reaches 1.3 mJ at 1.464 μm and 0.47 mJ at 3.894 μm,corresponding to a pumpto-idler photon conversion efficiency of 25%.By seeding the hard-to-measure mid-infrared radiation as the idler in the optical parametric amplification and measuring the amplified and frequency up-converted signal in the near-infrared or even visible region,one can measure very week mid-infrared radiation with ordinary detectors,which are insensitive to mid-infrared radiation,with a very high gain.A maximum gain factor of about 7 × 10 7 is achieved at the mid-infrared wavelength of 3.374 μm and the corresponding energy detection limit is as low as about 390 aJ per pulse.     

高功率,红光至中红外可调谐腔内和频光学参量振荡器

本文利用高重复频率,高平均功率大模场面积飞秒光纤激光器作为同步抽运源,抽运以多周期极化掺氧化镁铌酸锂为非线性晶体的单共振光学参量振荡器,获得了高功率可调谐红光至中红外光,信号光调谐范围为1450—2200 nm,闲频光调谐范围为2250—4000 nm,在2 W的抽运功率下,信号光输出波长为1502 nm时获得最大输出功率374 mW,转换效率为18.7%,脉冲宽度为144 fs,此时中红外输出中心波长为3.4μm,平均功率为166 mW.再利用BBO晶体对信号光进行腔内和频,获得和频光输出波长调谐范围为610—668 nm,在4.1 W抽运的情况下,最高平均功率为615 nm处的694 mW,转换效率达16.9%.     

基于层状WS2调制激光泵浦的光学参量振荡中红外运转特性

光学参量振荡器是重要的中红外相干光源.近年来,在激光调制方面,二维过渡金属硫化物展现了非线性可饱和吸收特性,因此有望成为光学参量振荡器基频激光的优良调制元件.本工作中,首先,实验测量了层状二硫化钨(WS₂)调制固体激光的输出特性.其次,结合主动声光Q开关,实现了主被动双调Q光参量振荡的运转,得到了纳秒脉冲宽度的中红外脉冲,并研究了WS₂对光参量转换的优化特性,发现WS₂纳米片除了能够压缩脉冲、提高峰值功率外,还能缓解单主动调Q光学参量振荡器中的"输出饱和下降"现象,这种现象可能起因于砷酸钛氧钾(KTiOAsO₄, KTA)的制冷不均匀. WS₂的可饱和吸收效应能够显著压缩光斑,减少高斯光斑的边缘能量,因此能够缓解KTA的温度梯度分布,从而优化输出特性.最后,基于WS₂的非线性透过率曲线,考虑非均匀展宽机制和大信号下的非饱和吸收,计算了WS₂的可饱和吸收特性参数,并求解了层状WS₂调制光学参量振荡器的速率方程组.本...     

Compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3

This paper demonstrates a compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YVOquasi-phase-matching, intracavity optical parametric generator, periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN)Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10474071 and 60671036).4265K, 4260F, 4270This paper demonstrates a compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YVOquasi-phase-matching, intracavity optical parametric generator, periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN)Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10474071 and 60671036).4265K, 4260F, 4270This paper demonstrates a compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YVOquasi-phase-matching, intracavity optical parametric generator, periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN)Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10474071 and 60671036).4265K, 4260F, 4270This paper demonstrates a compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YVOquasi-phase-matching, intracavity optical parametric generator, periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN)Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10474071 and 60671036).4265K, 4260F, 4270This paper demonstrates a compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YVOquasi-phase-matching, intracavity optical parametric generator, periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN)Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10474071 and 60671036).4265K, 4260F, 4270This paper demonstrates a compact efficient optical parametric generator internal to a Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YVO$_{4}$ laser with periodically poled MgO:LiNbO₃(PPMgLN). With the Q-switch set at a repetition rate of 25kHz and the PPMgLN crystal operated at room temperature (25\du\,), the intracavity optical parametric generator threshold was reached as a diode pump power of 0.9\,W. A maximum signal output power of 0.34W with a pulse width of 25\,ns and a beam quality factor of 1.4 was obtained at an incident diode power of 3.4\,W, leading to a conversion efficiency of 10{\%} with a slope efficiency of 14.4{\%}. By varying the crystal temperature from 25 to 200\du, the output signal wavelengths were tuned in range of 1506--1565\,nm. Over a 30-minutes interval, the instability of the signal power was measured to be less than 1{\%}. In addition, the threshold pump intensity for the intracavity optical parametric generator is theoretically investigated, and the obtained result is in good agreement with the experimental results.     

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。     

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.     

High repetition rate mid-infrared generation with singly resonant optical parametric oscillator using multi-grating periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3

A high repetition rate mid-infrared singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) using MgO-doped multi-grating periodically poled LiNbO₃ (MgO:PPLN) is demonstrated. A 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser at 10 kHz repetition rate and pulse width of 17.8 ns was used to pump the OPO. The period of the quasi-phase matched (QPM) grating in the multi-grating MgO:PPLN chip varied from 25.5 to 31.5 μm in steps of 0.5 μm. This corresponds to the generation of a signal beam from 1.37 to 1.64 μm and an idler beam from 3.0 to 4.8 μm, respectively. A maximum signal power of 250 mW and idler power of 140 mW has been obtained with an input pump beam of power 1.92 W, for a grating period of 30.5 μm. A maximum optic-optic conversion efficiency of 20% and 7.4% in the idler has been observed. It has been observed that the output power increases as the period of the grating increases.     

Mid-infrared generation based on a periodically poled LiNbO3 optical parametric oscillator

We report a nanosecond Nd:YVO_4-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled LiNbO_3 (PPLN). Tuning is achieved in this experiment by varying the temperature and period of the PPLN. The design of double-pass singly resonant oscillator (DSRO) and confocal cavity enables the OPO threshold to be lowered considerably, resulting in a simple, compact, all-solid-state configuration with the mid-infrared idler powers of up to 466mW at 3.41μm.     

High-power tunable terahertz generation from a surface-emitted THz-wave parametric oscillator based on two MgO:LiNbO3 crystals

A high-powered tunable terahertz wave (THz-wave) has been parametrically generated via a surface-emitted THz-wave parametric oscillator (TPO) pumped by a multi-longitudinal-mode Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The effective parametric gain length was enlarged by employing two MgO:LiNbO₃ crystals. The tunable THz-wave radiation from 0.8 to 2.8 THz was realized via varying phase-matching angle between the pump wave and the Stokes wave. The maximum THz-wave radiation was 173.9 nJ/pulse at 1.7 THz as the pump energy was 82 mJ, corresponding to an energy conversion efficiency of about 2.12 × 10⁻⁶ and a photon conversion efficiency of about 0.035%. The first-order, the second-order and the third-order Stokes waves were observed during the experiments.     

基于镁掺杂的周期性畴反转铌酸锂的宽调谐光参量振荡器

报道基于6mol%镁掺杂的周期性畴反转掺镁铌酸锂(PPMgLN)的宽调谐光参量振荡器(OPO). PPMgLN采用外加电场法制作，周期为27.8—31.6μm，周期间隔为0.2μm.光参量振荡器的抽运源采用输出为1.064μm的声光调Q的Nd³⁺:YVO₄激光器，其调谐范围为1.42—1.73μm(信号光)和2.76—4.27μm(闲散光)，斜率效率达到47%.在输入功率为10.6W时，输出功率达到4.8W(信号光和闲散光之和). 关键词： 周期性畴极化掺镁铌酸锂 宽调谐光参量振荡器     

Low-threshold, high-efficiency, high-repetition-rate optical parametric generator based on periodically poled LiNbO3

We report a high-repetition-rate optical parametric generator (OPG) with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal pumped by an acousto-optically Q-switched CW-diode-end-pumped Nd:YVO_4 laser. For the maximum 1064nm pump power of 970mW, the maximum conversion efficiency is 32.9% under the conditions of 250℃, 1064nm pulse repetition rate of 22.6kHz and pulse width of 12ns, and the PPLN OPG threshold in the collinear case is less than 23.7μJ. The output power increases with the increase of the crystal temperature. The 1485－1553nm signal wave and 3383－3754nm idler wave are obtained by changing the temperature and the angle of the PPLN crystal.     

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.     

Second harmonic generation in inhomogeneous MgO:LiNbO3 waveguides

A fibre laser at 1111.6 nm is frequency doubled by two inhomogeneous MgO:LiNbO3 waveguides and the output powers of 85 mW and 49 mW at 555.8 nm have been generated with the conversion efficiencies of 47% and 27% respectively. By analysing the second harmonic generation temperature tuning curves, we investigate the influence of the optical inhomogeneities upon the conversion efficiency. The final result shows that the efficiency difference is mainly affected by the optical inhomogeneities in our case.     

Generation of a mid-infrared broadband polarized supercontinuum in As2Se3 photonic crystal fibers

A simplified structure of birefringent chalcogenide As 2 Se 3 photonic crystal fiber（PCF） is designed.Properties of birefringence,polarization extinction ratio,chromatic dispersion,nonlinear coefficient,and transmission are studied by using the multipole method,the finite-difference beam propagation method,and the adaptive split-step Fourier method.Considering that the zero dispersion wavelength of our proposed fiber is about 4 μm,we have analysed the mechanism of spectral broadening in PCFs with different pitches in detail,with femtosecond pulses at a wavelength of 4 μm as the pump pulses.Especially,mid-infrared broadband polarized supercontinuums are obtained in a 3-cm PCF with an optimal pitch of 2 μm.Their spectral width at 20 dB reaches up to 12 μm.In the birefringent PCF,we find that the supercontinuum generation changes with the pump alignment angle.Research results show that no coupling between eigenpolarization modes are observed at the maximum average power（i.e.,37 mW）,which indicates that the polarization state is well maintained.     

Investigation of pump-wavelength dependence of terahertz-wave parametric oscillator based on LiNbO3

This paper investigates the performances of terahertz-wave parametric oscillators(TPOs) based on the LiNbO 3 crystal at different pump wavelengths.The calculated results show that TPO characteristics,including the frequency tuning range,the THz-wave gain and the stability of THz-wave output direction based on the Si-prism coupler,can be significantly improved by using a short-wavelength pump.It also demonstrates that a long-wavelength-pump allows the employment of a short TPO cavity due to an enlarged phase-matching angle,that is,an increased angular separation between the pump and oscillated Stokes beams under the THz-wave generation at a specific frequency.The study provides an useful guide and a theoretical basis for the further improvement of TPO systems.     

1653 nm光参量放大器及在甲烷遥测方面的应用

基于掺氧化镁的周期性极化铌酸锂（MgO:PPLN）晶体,研究了连续波种子光注入结构的光参量放大器(OPA)。采用重复频率为10 kHz、最大平均输出功率为6 W的1064 nm高频脉冲激光作为抽运源,晶体的极化周期为31.02 m,在119 ℃工作温度下,将连续分布式反馈激光器（DFB）作为种子注入,在1652.3 nm处得到最大平均功率为125 mW的OPA信号光输出,量子转换效率为7.47％。实验通过改变注入种子光波长,实现了信号光nm级范围的调谐输出。信号光通过10 m外甲烷气池,观察到其光谱强度明显下降,初步验证了信号光在甲烷遥测领域的可行性。与用种子光直接检测相比,信号光强度更高,检测距离及灵敏度均有较大优势。     

掺Er3+氟化物光纤振荡器中红外超短脉冲的产生

基于非线性薛定谔方程建立了氟化物(ZrF₄-BaF₂-LaF₃-AlF₃-NaF, ZBLAN)光纤振荡器中产生中红外超短脉冲的理论模型, 在此基础上研究了中红外超短脉冲在氟化物光纤振荡器中形成的物理机理, 数值模拟了氟化物光纤振荡器中中红外超短脉冲的演化过程. 分析了腔内净色散和小信号增益系数对振荡器中锁模脉冲产生的影响, 并给出了参数设置范围. 研究发现: 当掺Er³⁺氟化物光纤长度, 小信号增益系数, 不饱和损耗为一定值时, 腔内净色散在一定范围内才会出现稳定的锁模脉冲, 且随着腔内净色散增加脉冲宽度变宽, 光谱变窄, 峰值功率降低; 当掺Er³⁺氟化物光纤长度及不饱和损耗一定, 腔内净色散量为合理值, 小信号增益系数在合理的范围时可以得到稳定的锁模脉冲, 且随着小信号增益系数的增加脉冲宽度变宽, 光谱变宽, 峰值功率增加.     

KBe2BO3F2飞秒光参量放大中的群速匹配

提出了KBe₂BO₃F₂ （KBBF）飞秒光参量放大中三波群速完全匹配的方法.对于Ⅰ类相位匹配方式采用非共线结构及倾斜抽运光脉冲波面,对于Ⅱ类相位匹配方式采用共线结构同时倾斜抽运光和信号光脉冲波面,可实现参量带宽最大时三波群速的完全匹配,从而获得更高增益,更窄脉宽的参量光. 关键词： 群速匹配 相位匹配 脉冲波面倾斜 飞秒光参量放大     

利用周期性极化KTiOPO4晶体参量缩小过程产生明亮振幅压缩光

利用周期性极化KTiOPO₄晶体构成的连续准相位匹配简并光学参量缩小谐振腔， 获得了注入红外的明亮正交振幅压缩光.参量振荡阈值为35mW.当抽运光功率为20mW时，测得压缩度为223dB，特别是当抽运光功率为8mW时，测得压缩度为217dB. 关键词： 准相位匹配 简并光学参量放大器 明亮振幅压缩光     

High efficiency continuous-wave tunable signal output of an intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate

In this paper we report on a continuous-wave (CW) intracavity singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (ICSRO) based on periodically poled LiNbO₃ (PPLN) pumped by a diode-end-pumped CW Nd:YVO₄ laser. Considering the thermal lens effects and diffraction loss, an optical ballast lens and a near-concentric cavity are adopted for better operation. Through varying the grating period and the temperature, the tunable signal output from 1406~nm to 1513~nm is obtained. At a PPLN grating period of 29~μ m and a temperature of 413~K, a maximum signal output power of 820~mW at 1500~nm is achieved when the 808~nm pump power is 10.9~W, leading to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 7.51%.