基于PPMgLn晶体全固态宽带可调光学参量振荡器

基于掺MgO周期极化铌酸锂晶体的光学参量振荡器是一种全固态中红外可调谐相干光源.泵浦源为1064 nm声光调Q Nd:YAG激光器.通过温度调谐实现了中红外可调谐参量光的输出,当晶体的温度从40°C升高到200°C时,获得信号光的输出范围为1.561 μm～1.670μm,空闲光的调谐范围为3.342 μm～2.932 μm.当泵浦源脉宽为70 ns,重复频率为10 kHz,平均功率为.161 W,获得波长为1631μm.当泵浦源脉宽为70 ns,重复频率为10 kHz,平均功率为1.61 W,获得波长为1631 nm信号光的输出功率为21 1 mW.     

光参量振荡器的模型仿真

在傍轴近似条件下建立了OPO的数学模型,通过引入三波混频中时间与空间关系,采用分步傅里叶算法模拟了纳秒级脉冲和连续光波在谐振腔内的三波混频过程。理论模型中考虑了不同频率光波之间的色散关系,可以在高转换效率情况下分析不同泵浦脉冲功率、脉冲时长、腔镜透反射比以及不同种子光输入等情况下的输出波形、功率以及OPO阈值等特性。实验中采用掺杂MgO的周期性极化铌酸锂晶体（MgO∶PPLN）为非线性介质,在输入1.06 m泵浦激光脉冲能量为0.4 mJ时,产生3.8 m闲频光超过0.07 mJ输出,与数值模拟结果0.08 mJ较为符合。     

Efficient parametric conversion from 1.06 to 3.8 μm by an aperiodically poled cascaded lithium niobate

We experimentally demonstrated an efficient optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with high parametric conversion from 1.0645 to 3.8?μm. An aperiodically poled magnesium oxide doped lithium niobate wafer was designed and fabricated as the nonlinear crystal of the OPO. A linearly polarized acousto-optic Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser was used as the pump source. High pump-to-idler conversion efficiency of 18.5% was achieved with a slope efficiency of up to 21.5%. When compared with a periodically poled channel fabricated on the same wafer, under the condition of output coupler optimized for the periodically poled lithium niobate based OPO, an improvement of slope efficiency by 28.3% from 15.2% to 19.5% and total efficiency by 12.5% from 13.6% to 15.3% under the highest pump power of 11?W was realized for the pump-to-idler conversion.     

16μm tunable source using parametric processes in non-linear crystals

A reliable continuously tunable source of 16μm radiation with ～$\text{1}\text{2}$ kW peak power and repetition rates up to 20 pps is described. This consists of an Nd : YAG driven lithium niobate return pump parametric oscillator, with non-linear mixing of the signal and idler wavelengths in cadmium selenide. Pulse energies of 5 μJ and linewidths of 2.6 cm^-1 at 16 μm have been observed with the grating tuned OPO. Potential improvements in output energy and bandwidth (spectrum narrowing) are discussed.     

Surface acoustic wave studies of subsurface damage

We have measured the attenuation of surface acoustic waves on polished substrates and correlated the frequency-dependent attenuation with sub-surface damage. The damage was produced in single crystal lithium niobate samples by lapping and polishing with commercially available diamond compound. Surface acoustic wave attenuation on these samples was measured from 100 MHz to 1.5 GHz using interdigital transducers, thus covering depths ranging from 35 μm to 2 μm below the lithium niobate surface     

准相位匹配扇形光栅铌酸锂光波导倍频绿光输出

采用外加电场极化方式对具有扇形光栅的 0 .5mm厚Z切铌酸锂晶体进行极化反转 ,制成了退火质子交换光波导。极化反转周期为 5 .8μm～ 6 .2 μm ,采用Nd∶YAG激光器输出的 1.0 6 4 μm连续激光为基频光波 ,实现了0 .5 32 μm倍频绿光输出 ,相互作用长度为 4mm ,耦入波导的基频光波功率为 10mW ,获得了 2 0 μW的绿色倍频光输出 ,归一化转换效率为 12 5 % (W·cm2 )。     

高功率宽调谐输出的多周期极化铌酸锂晶体光学参量振荡器

利用掺杂浓度为5 mol%的掺氧化镁多周期极化铌酸锂晶体实现了高效单谐振的准相位匹配光参量振荡器,所使用的周期极化铌酸锂晶体有6个周期,且以1 μm为间隔,从26.5~31.5 μm. 该光参量振荡器以脉宽为150 ns,重复频率为10 kHz的声光调Q Nd∶YAG激光器为泵浦源,且泵浦光波长为1.064 μm. 通过控制晶体的温度（50~200℃）以及改变晶体的极化周期（26.5~31.5 μm）,可由该光参量振荡器获得2.83~2.89 μm,3.10~3.38 μm,3.57~3.78 μm,3.95~4.12 μm, 4.28~4.46 μm,4.65~4.79 μm的闲频光连续调谐输出. 且当泵浦功率为8.15 W时,在闲频光输出波长为3.33 μm处,获得了最大输出功率2.17 W.     

Low-threshold optical parametric oscillations in a whispering gallery mode resonator

In whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator light is guided by continuous total internal reflection along a curved surface. Fabricating such resonators from an optically nonlinear material one takes advantage of their exceptionally high quality factors and small mode volumes to achieve extremely efficient optical frequency conversion. Our analysis of the phase-matching conditions for optical parametric down-conversion (PDC) in a spherical WGM resonator shows their direct relation to the sum rules for photons' angular momenta and predicts a very low parametric oscillation threshold. We realized such an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on naturally phase-matched PDC in lithium niobate. We demonstrated a single-mode, strongly nondegenerate OPO with a threshold of 6.7 μW and linewidth under 10 MHz. This work demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of WGM-based OPOs.     

Thermal effects in singly resonant continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators

Stability and tuning characteristics of continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (CW OPOs) are affected by various thermal effects arising from optical absorption in nonlinear crystals. In this paper, we present an experimental study of such effects in a singly resonant CW OPO. The OPO operates in the 3-μm mid-infrared region and it is based on a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. We focus our study on two thermally induced phenomena that have been recently reported to exist in singly resonant CW OPOs: optical bi-stability and thermal self-locking. Thermal self-locking effect, which is known to alter the stability and tuning properties of doubly and triply resonant CW OPOs, is shown to be also of importance in singly resonant OPOs. We report the stability and tuning characteristics of a thermally loaded OPO and discuss a simple temperature-tuning method that can be used to scan the OPO idler frequency continuously over several THz.     

High-resolution Doppler-free molecular spectroscopy with a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator

We present a reliable, narrow-linewidth (100-kHz) continous-wave optical parametric oscillator (OPO) suitable for high-resolution spectroscopy applications. The singly resonant OPO with a resonated pump is based on periodically poled lithium niobate crystal and features a specially designed intracavity etalon, which permits precise tuning to any desired wavelength in a wide range. We demonstrate Doppler-free spectroscopy of a rovibrational transition of methane at 3.39 mum.     

利用准相位匹配光学参量振荡器获得可调谐强度差压缩光

利用106μm全固化单频Nd:YVO4激光器抽运由PPLN构建的三共振光学参量振荡器，在光学参量振荡器近简并运转的情况下：信号光和闲置光的波长相差约为200nm，观察到了信号光和闲置光的强度起伏的关联，实测强度差噪声压缩度达04dB.在此基础上，利用温度调谐了信号光和闲置光的波长，在17nm的范围内都观察到信号光和闲置光的强度起伏的关联. 关键词： 准相位匹配 光学参量振荡 强度差噪声压缩     

Synchronously pumped mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator with an output power exceeding 1?W at 4.5?��m

The generation of tunable mid-infrared picosecond laser radiation in a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) is reported. Numerical calculations were used to optimize the crystal length in order to balance the parametric gain and the absorption losses in the high-absorption regime of lithium niobate. Due to the numerical results, the system was systematically optimized for the mid-infrared output power. An output power of 1.1?W at 4.5???m and of more than 3?W at 3???m were achieved for 6-ps-long pulses with a repetition rate of 160?MHz and an M²<2.     

Low-voltage tunable second-harmonic generation in an x-cut periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

We report a new method of tuning the second-harmonic signal generated in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. This technique relies on the recent progress in the fabrication of PPLNs on x-cut substrates along with periodical coplanar electrodes to reduce the tuning voltage while preserving the conversion efficiency. Our scheme exploits a type I interaction implemented in a titanium waveguide to impede cancellation of the electro-optical coefficients and to minimize the group-velocity mismatch between the first- and second-harmonic modes. The tuning range covers 58 nm with an applied voltage of +/-150 V.     

High-efficiency,high-repetition-rate,temperature-tuning optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate

We report a compact and viable source of high-efficiency, high-repetition-rate, temperature-tuning, mid-IR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgOLN) pumped by a homemade high power AOM Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser centered at 1.064 μm. With an optimal plane-concave resonator configuration, average output power of 5.7 W at 2.73 μm was obtained when the pump power was 25 W at the repetition rate of 80 kHz. The conversion efficiency from the 1.064 μm laser to the 2.73 μm laser was 22.8%. Temperature tuning of the OPO yielded a signal wavelength range from 1.67 to 1.75 μm and an idler wavelength in the range of 2.72 to 2.92 μm.     

Efficient, single frequency, high repetition rate, PPLN OPO pumped by a prelase Q-switched diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser

Single axial mode operation (<200 MHz optical bandwidth) of a high repetition rate periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric oscillator (OPO) has been obtained at signal wavelengths between 1.46 μm and 1.64 μm. OPO signal slope efficiencies of 35% have been measured for repetition rates of 5–20 kHz. Single mode operation required spectral narrowing of both the pump laser and the OPO. A simple technique of prelase Q-switching was implemented to reduce the optical bandwidth of the cw diode-pumped Nd:YAG pump laser to <1 GHz. A single intracavity étalon was then sufficient to ensure single frequency oscillation of the OPO signal. The OPO output was stable with a smooth spatial profile and an M ² value of 1.3. Received: 29 September 1999 / Published online: 27 January 2000     

Intracavity terahertz-wave generation in a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator using quasi-phase-matched GaAs

We generated 1 mW of average output power at 2.8 THz (bandwidth of approximately 300 GHz) in a diffraction-limited beam by placing a 6-mm-long quasi-phase-matched GaAs crystal inside the cavity of a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO used type-II-phase-matched periodically poled lithium niobate as a gain medium and was pumped by a mode-locked laser at 1064 nm, with a 7 ps pulse duration, 50 MHz repetition rate, and 10 W average output power. The terahertz radiation was generated by difference frequency mixing between the signal and idler waves of the near-degenerate doubly resonant OPO.     

Compact, actively Q-switched optical parametric oscillator

An ultracompact, actively Q -switched optical parametric oscillator (OPO) has been realized that is only 30 mm in length, based on a semimonolithic microchip laser, a quadrupole deflector, and a monolithic periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. The OPO threshold was 550 mW when Nd:YAG was used as the gain material and 590 mW for Nd:Y VO(4), giving signal pulses of as much as 8.7 muJ in energy with Nd:YAG at 1 kHz and 5.9-mu;J pulses with Nd:Y VO(4) at 5 kHz, for 1.2- and 2-W laser diode pumping, respectively. The output was single frequency and could be tuned over the range 1540-3440 nm.     

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.     

Tunable femtosecond laser in the visible range with an intracavity frequency-doubled optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrated experimentally a synchronously pumped intracavity frequency-doubled femtosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) using a periodically-poled lithium niobate (PPLN) as the nonlinear material in combination with a lithium triborate (LBO) as the doubling crystal. A Kerr-lens-mode-locked (KLM) Ti:sapphire oscillator at the wavelength of 790 nm was used as the pump source, which was capable of generating pulses with a duration as short as 117 fs. A tunable femtosecond laser covering the 624-672 nm range was realized by conveniently adjusting the OPO cavity length. A maximum average output power of 260 mW in the visible range was obtained at the pump power of 2.2 W, with a typical pulse duration of 205 fs assuming a sech2 pulse profile.     

Five‐cycle pulses near λ = 3 μm produced in a subharmonic optical parametric oscillator via fine dispersion management

Five‐cycle (50 fs) mid‐IR pulses at 80‐MHz repetition rate are produced using a degenerate (subharmonic) optical parametric oscillator (OPO), synchronously pumped by an ultrafast 1560‐nm fiber laser. The effects of cavity dispersion and the length of a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) gain element on the output spectrum and pulse duration are investigated by taking advantage of a very broad (∼ 1000 cm⁻¹) gain bandwidth near the 3.1‐μm OPO degeneracy point. A new method of assessing the total OPO group delay dispersion across its entire spectrum is proposed, based on measuring spectral signatures of trace amounts of molecular gases injected into the OPO cavity.