Two-dimensional PPLN for simultaneous laser Q-switching and optical parametric oscillation in a Nd:YVO4 laser

Simultaneous electro-optic spectral switching and Q switching in a dual-wavelength Nd:YVO4 laser based on an aperiodic optical superlattice lithium niobate

We report the demonstration of an electro-optic (EO) switchable dual-wavelength (1064- and 1342-nm) Nd:YVO₄ laser based on an aperiodically poled lithium niobate (APPLN) chip whose domain structure is designed using aperiodic optical superlattice (AOS) technology. The APPLN works as a wavelength-dependent EO polarization-state controller in the polarization-dependent laser gain system to enable switching among multiple laser spectra simply by voltage control. When the APPLN device is driven by a voltage-pulse train modulating between a V_HQ (in which target laser lines obtain gain) and a V_LQ (in which laser lines are gain suppressed), the unique laser system can produce Q-switched laser pulses at dual wavelengths 1064 and 1342 nm, single wavelength 1064 nm, and single wavelength 1342 nm, as well as their non-phase-matched sum-frequency and second-harmonic generations at V_HQ= 0, 267, and 895 V, respectively. A laser can benefit from such a novel, to the best of our knowledge, simultaneous EO spectral switching and Q switching mechanisms to increase its processing speed and multiplexity for versatile applications.

Q-switching and quasi-phase-matching using a domain structured LiNbO3 crystal

We report a device that acts as an active Q-switch and a quasi-phase-matching structure. It is a domain-structured LiNbO₃ crystal, where the Q-switching is performed by electro-optic deflection and the wavelength conversion is produced by quasi-phase-matched optical parametric generation. By introducing this device into a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser we obtained pulses at 1064 nm (~10 ns FWHM, 195 µJ) and 1617 nm (~3 ns, 15 µJ).

Multi-resonant optical parametric oscillator based on 2D-PPLT nonlinear photonic crystal

The aim of this work is to achieve an optical parametric oscillator based on two-dimensional periodically poled lithium tantalate (2D-PPLT) crystals that are designed to allow multiple reciprocal lattice-vector contribution to the quasi-phase matching scheme. We are particularly interested in the effect of the multi-wavelength parametric generation performed by the 2D nonlinear photonic crystal to achieve a multi-resonant optical parametric oscillator. The performances are studied in terms of generation efficiency and multi-wavelength generation.

Double-prism domain PPLN for simultaneous laser Q-switching and optical parametric oscillation in a Nd:YVO4 laser

We report a design and demonstration of an electro-optically Q-switched intracavity optical parametric oscillator (IOPO) based on a unique ramped duty-cycle periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) in a diode-pumped 1064-nm Nd:YVO(4) laser. The PPLN crystal, having a double-prism domain (DPD) structure with a domain period of 30 μm, can work simultaneously as an electro-optic (EO) beam deflector (and therefore an EO Q-switch in the laser cavity) and an optical parametric down converter. The characterized deflection sensitivity of the DPD PPLN device was 1.15°/kV-cm. At a 180-V Q-switching voltage and a 1-kHz switching rate, we measured a down-converted signal at 1550 nm with pulse energy of >8.1 μJ (or peak power of >2.3 kW) from the constructed IOPO at 7.5-W diode pump power. Continuous wavelength tuning of the IOPO signal was also demonstrated.

Tunable, pulsed multiline intracavity optical parametric oscillator using two-dimensional MgO: periodically poled lithium niobate-aperiodically poled lithium niobate

We report a tunable, pulsed multiline intracavity optical parametric oscillator (IOPO) realized in an Nd:YVO4 laser using a two-dimensionally domain engineered MgO:LiNbO3 as simultaneously an electro-optic Bragg Q switch and a multichannel optical parametric downconverter. The MgO:LiNbO3 was periodically and aperiodically poled along the crystallographic y and x axes, respectively, to simultaneously satisfy the phase-matching conditions required by the two quasi-phase-matching devices. When Q switched by 1 kHz, 300 V pulses, three signal lines at 1518, 1526, and 1534 nm were simultaneously generated, each with a peak power of ∼1  kW from the IOPO at 8.3 W diode power at 50°C. Spectral tuning of the three-line IOPO with temperature was demonstrated.

Internal Q-switching and self-optical parametric oscillation in a two-dimensional periodically poled Nd:MgO:LiNbO3 laser

We report on an internally Q-switched self-optical parametric oscillator (SOPO) based on a monolithic two-dimensional (2D) periodically poled Nd:MgO:LiNbO(3) (Nd:MgO:PPLN) integrating three device functionalities of a laser gain medium, an electro-optic Bragg Q-switch, and an optical parametric gain medium (OPGM). The quasi-phase-matching conditions required by the Bragg Q-switch and OPGM are both satisfied in the 2D nonlinear photonic crystal (NPC) structure formed in the Nd:MgO:PPLN. A 1525 nm signal with a pulse energy of ∼3.3 μJ (>350 W peak power) was obtained from the SOPO at 8.5 W diode pump power. An off-angle signal at 1612 nm, amplified by a unique gain-enhancement effect in this 2D NPC, was also observed. Tuning of the SOPO in the eye-safe region was demonstrated.