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.     

Generation of amplitude squeezed green light from a high efficiency PPKTP frequency doubler

We report on a high-efficiency 532 nm green light conversion from an external cavity-enhanced second harmonic generation of a home-made 1064 nm single-frequency Nd:YVO₄ laser with a periodically poled KTP crystal. A stable green power of 60 mW with a conversion efficiency of 75% was measured. Meantime, we investigate the quadrature amplitude noise of the green light at the same experimental setup and 0.6 dB green light squeezing was experimentally observed (taking into account the total detection efficiency of 58%, the squeezing should be 1.1 dB). The squeezing as a function of input power was also studied and we found qualitative agreement with theoretical prediction.     

Efficient second-harmonic generation of ultrashort pulses with simultaneous quasi-phase matching and group velocity matching in periodic 90° domain structures of potassium niobate

Triple-line-shaped electrodes were devised to fabricate a periodically poled 90° domain structure of KNbO₃ (PP90KN) of 20.25 μm period with uniform periodicity and reproducibility. Using the fundamental pulse of 141 fs duration at 1619 nm wavelength, an efficient broadband type-I quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation was realized in an 8.3 mm long PP90KN by satisfying both phase matching and group-velocity-matching in the telecommunication L-band at room temperature. Second-harmonic pulses showed no significant temporal and spectral distortion and had a pulse duration of about 144 fs, which agreed well with the theoretical value of 142 fs. The conversion efficiency of the second-harmonic generation was 28.7% at the fundamental pulse energy of 0.92 nJ, which is about 60% of the theoretical value.     

Widely tunable, high-repetition-rate, dual signal-wave optical parametric oscillator by using two periodically poled crystals

This paper reports on a high-repetition-rate dual signal-wave (DSW) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating at the 1.5 μm band with tunable wavelength intervals from 2.5 nm to 69.1 nm. Two periodically poled crystals, a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) with multiple gratings and a single grating MgO-doped PPLN (PPMgOLN), are cascaded in the same OPO cavity to generate dual signal-waves by using quasi-phase-matched (QPM) technique. The pump source was a Q-switched diode-pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser operating at 50 kHz. At an incident pump power of 3 W, an average output power of 169.6 mW at 1489.2 nm and 1558.3 nm has been achieved.     

Mid-infrared tunable dual-wavelength generation based on a quasi-phase-matched optical parametric oscillator

We report an efficient optical parametric oscillator (OPO) of dual idler wave output based on periodically poled MgO:LiNbO₃ with a periodically-phase-reversed grating structure, which is pumped by a Q-switched 1.064 μm laser with a repetition rate of 50 kHz. 0.98 W of dual idler-waves at 3.824 μm and 3.731 μm is achieved at room temperature, leading to a 12.9% conversion efficiency. The crystal temperature tuning provides output tunability of the dual idler wavelengths. In addition, the sum frequency generation of the dual signal waves is simultaneously observed in the OPO cavity.     

Tuning visible light generation based on multi-channel quasi-periodically poled LiTaO3

We demonstrate broadband tuning visible light generation based on a multi-channel quasi-periodically poled LiTaO₃ crystal, in which a quasi-phase matched optical parametric generation process and a quasi-phase matched sum-frequency mixing process were achieved simultaneously. The conversion characters on spectrum and energy were studied by using a nanosecond pulse laser at 1.064 μm as pump light. We could tune the visible light over ~ 26 nm by means of changing the crystal's channel and temperature. The ratio of the output wavelength variation to that of temperature was ~ 0.07 nm/°C. The single-pass slope efficiency was 6.3% with the maximum output energy of 25 μJ.     

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.     

准相位匹配周期极化高掺镁铌酸锂532 nm倍频准连续输出研究

对周期性极化高掺镁铌酸锂倍频过程进行了准相位匹配倍频理论研究。在室温下通过外加电场极化法,用较低的极化开关电场～5．5kV／mm,在厚为1mm、长为10mm、宽为10mm的掺镁铌酸锂基片上成功地制备了周期为5．8～7．3pm(间隔0．3pm)的一阶准相位匹配倍频周期性极化光学微结构。将温度控制在70℃左右,以波长为1．060μm的Nd：YAG激光为基频光源,对所研制的光学微结构样品进行倍频通光实验验证。当入射基频光为920mW时,可以获得约15mW的532nm准连续倍频蓝光输出．其归一化转换效率高达1．77％／W。     

The ridge waveguide fabrication with periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate for green laser

Ridge waveguides were fabricated using an external field, a precision lapping machine and neutron loop discharge (NLD) in magnesium-oxide-doped lithium niobate. The measured quasi-phase-matching (QPM) wavelength of the second-harmonic generation (SHG) in a 30 mm long periodically poled magnesium-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN) ridge waveguide which has a domain period of 6.8 μm is about 532 nm. A fabricated periodically poled magnesium-doped lithium niobate ridge waveguide was duty cycle of 51.9 ± 2.83% and demonstrated second-harmonic generation. By using this periodically poled magnesium-doped lithium niobate ridge waveguide, highly effective, low-cost optical devices with high power or short wavelength can be achieved.     

Highly efficient blue-light generation from a compact, diode-pumped femtosecond laser by use of a periodically poled KTP waveguide crystal

We present a simplified, potentially portable, and highly efficient blue-light source from a periodically poled KTP waveguide crystal with a compact femtosecond Cr:LiSAF laser. This light source generates 5.6 mW of blue average output power at 424 nm with 27 mW of incident fundamental in a single-pass extracavity arrangement at room temperature. The overall system efficiency of electrical power to blue light is 0.5%, and the internal second-harmonic generation conversion efficiency is as high as 37%. The slope efficiency of 5.5% pJ(-1) at low pulse energies is, to our knowledge, the highest slope efficiency yet reported for frequency conversion into the blue spectral region.     

Diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:LuxY1−xVO4 laser at 1.34 μm with two V:YAG saturable absorbers

Laser performance with the mixed Nd:Lu_0.15Y_0.85VO₄ crystal at 1.34 μm wavelength has been demonstrated. The continuous wave (cw) operation was carried out in a simple plano-concave resonator with an optical conversion efficiency of 23% and a slop efficiency of 25%. At a pump power of 6.78 W, the Q-switched pulses with the largest average output power of 349 mW, the shortest pulse width of 30.6 ns, the largest repetition rate of 42.5 kHz, the highest peak power of 268 W and the largest pulse energy of 8.2 μJ were obtained, corresponding to the V:YAG with initial transmission of 89%.     

Yellow nanosecond sum-frequency generating optical parametric oscillator using periodically poled LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Nanosecond yellow light has been generated through simultaneously phase matched sum-frequency generation and optical parametric oscillation in a periodically poled LiNbO₃ crystal. 300 mW of yellow light at a wavelength of 586 nm has been generated from 1.3 W of laser power from a Q-switched Yb:YAG laser operating at 1031 nm. The conversion efficiency of the device is 23%. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.65.Yj     

400 mW and 16.5% wavelength conversion efficiency at 488 nm using a diode laser and a PPLN crystal in single pass configuration

Continuous wave power of more than 400 mW at 488 nm has been generated by frequency doubling of 2.45 W at 976 nm obtained from a distributed Bragg reflector tapered diode laser. This results in a wavelength conversion efficiency of 16.5% and an electrical-to-optical efficiency of more than 4.5%. We used a 50 mm long periodically poled MgO:LiNbO₃ bulk crystal in single-pass configuration for the second harmonic generation. This is to the author’s knowledge the highest output power and the highest wavelength conversion efficiency at 488 nm generated by a monolithic semiconductor laser device in single pass configuration with a bulk crystal. A deviation from the quadratic dependency of the frequency doubling is explained by the decrease of the beam quality of the fundamental wave.     

Diode-pumped Q-switched laser with intracavity sum frequency mixing in periodically poled KTP

We report on a diode pumped Q-switched yellow-orange laser, with intracavity sum-frequency generation, in a periodically poled KTiOPO₄ crystal in a diode-pumped Q-switched dual-wavelength laser at 1064 and 1342 nm. The conversion efficiency is measured as a function of crystal temperature, incident pump power, and pulse repetition rate. Under optimal phase-matching conditions, the highest yellow-orange average power was 610 mW at a pump power of 17 W. PACS 42.60.Gd; 42.55.Rz; 42.55.Xi     

Orange light generation from a PPKTP waveguide end pumped by a cw quantum-dot tunable laser diode

A compact all-room-temperature frequency-doubling scheme generating cw orange light with a periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate waveguide and a quantum-dot external cavity diode laser is demonstrated. A frequency-doubled power of up to 4.3 mW at the wavelength of 612.9 nm with a conversion efficiency exceeding 10% is reported. Second harmonic wavelength tuning between 612.9 nm and 616.3 nm by changing the temperature of the crystal is also demonstrated.     

Widely phase-matched tunable difference-frequency generation in periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal

We report on the development of a laser source in the mid-infrared spectral region based on difference-frequency generation (DFG) in a periodically poled LiNbO₃ (PPLN) crystal. Continuously tunable coherent radiation from 2.75 to 4.78 μm was produced by optical parametric interaction between a diode-pumped monolithic continuous-wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.064 μm and a CW Ti:Sapphire laser tunable from 767 to 871 nm. Temperature-dependent quasi-phase-matched DFG wavelength acceptance bandwidth was studied and characterized. An empiric formula is given to estimate the phase-matched wavelength acceptance bandwidth as a function of the crystal temperature at Λ = 22.5 μm. A large frequency scan of 128 cm⁻¹ (about 78 cm⁻¹ above 1 μW) near 4.2 μm was achieved. The whole absorption spectrum of the P and R branches of the ν₃ band of atmospheric carbon dioxide has been recorded with a single phase-matched frequency scan.     

Continuous-tunable 4.144-4.851 μm twin-MgO:PPLN cascaded optical parametric generator pumped by a 1.342 μm Nd:GdVO4 laser

An all-solid-state mid-infrared optical parametric generator with wide tunability by using multi-grating periodically poled 5 mol.-% MgO-doped lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) is reported. The pump source is a diode-pumped Q-switched Nd:GdVO₄ laser operated at 1.342 μm with pulse width of 150 ns and repetition rate of 50 kHz. To extend the interaction length, two identical multi-grating MgO:PPLN crystals have been cascaded in the OPG system. When the incident pump average power is 10 W, the obtained maximum idler output power is 340 mW at 4.144 μm. Compared with only using one multi-grating MgO:PPLN crystal, the obtained idler output power increases by 20.1%. 4.144-4.851 μm continuous-tunable idler output is obtained with six grating periods from 29 to 31.5 μm and temperature from 40 to 200 °C. To our knowledge, this is the first time to use 1.342 μm laser as the pump source of OPG.     

All-optical wavelength tuning in Ti:PPLN Šolc filter via the photorefractive effect

We demonstrate fine-wavelength tuning of a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO₃ (Ti:PPLN) Šolc filter by use of the photorefractive (PR) effect. The center wavelength of a Ti:PPLN Šolc filter is controlled by the PR effect, which is induced by second-harmonic generation (SHG). The refractive index change caused by the PR effect is calculated from the measured shift in center wavelength from the Ti:PPLN Šolc filter. The experimental results show that all-optical fine-wavelength tuning in a Ti:PPLN Šolc filter is possible by the use of a second-order nonlinear effect and that a Ti:PPLN waveguide has much higher resistance to PR damage than a Ti:LiNbO₃ waveguide. The measured wavelength tuning rate as a function of the pump beam power is about − 0.033 nm/mW.     

Near- to mid-infrared picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO(4)

We describe a Ti:sapphire-pumped picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO(4) that is broadly tunable in the near to mid infrared. A 4.5-mm single-grating crystal at room temperature in combination with pump wavelength tuning provided access to a continuous-tuning range from 3.35 to 5microm , and a pump power threshold of 90 mW was measured. Average mid-infrared output powers in excess of 100 mW and total output powers of 400 mW in ~1-ps pulses were obtained at 33% extraction efficiency.     

Intra-cavity second harmonic generation with Nd:YVO4/BIBO laser at 542 nm

We report, for the first time, an efficient intra-cavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) at 1084 nm in a nonlinear optical crystal, BiB₃O₆(BIBO) at the direction of (θ, ?) = (170.1°, 90°), performed with a LD end-pumped cw Nd:YVO₄ laser. With 590 mW diode pump power, a continuous-wave (cw) SHG output power of 19 mW at 542 nm yellow-green color has been obtained using a 1.5 mm-thick BIBO crystal. The optical conversion efficiency was 3.22%. It was found that the output wavelength could be 532 nm, 537 nm or 542 nm according to regulating the angle of BIBO.