Photon statistics of the optical parametric oscillator including the threshold region

Starting from an effective Hamiltonian the derivation of a set of classical Langevin equations for the amplitudes of signal, idler, and pump is briefly reconsidered. From these equations all variables except those describing the signal mode are eliminated with the help of an adiabatic approximation and certain others, which are valid in the threshold region and somewhat above (i.e. photonumbers ? 10¹⁴). The signal mode amplitude then satisfies a van der Pol equation in the rotating wave approximation and is driven by a fluctuating force. With the exception of a slight difference due to the undamped phase diffusion of the pumping laser, the same Langevin equation has been derived earlier for the amplitude of a laser mode near threshold. We present the stochastically equivalent Fokker-Planck equation, whose solution is reduced to the known solution of the laser Fokker-Planck equation. Thus the complete photon statistics of the signal mode is revealed at once. In particular we obtain the stationary distribution and the amplitude and intensity correlation functions as well as the transient solution.