Periodically poled lithium niobate monolithic nanosecond optical parametric oscillators and generators

Pulse-to-pulse spectral noise in a spontaneous parametric down conversion light source

The presence of pronounced chemical signatures of several important molecules and gases in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral region has enabled numerous spectroscopic applications in diverse fields such as environmental monitoring and the life sciences. This has motivated the development of new, efficient light sources and detectors in this spectral region. In this work, we report on the development and characterization of a simple, low-cost, tunable mid-IR light source, covering the 1.45 µm to 3.5 µm spectral region, based on spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) in MgO doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN). The spectral coverage can be easily extended to 5 µm simply by choosing a crystal with an appropriate poling period. A low repetition rate, passively Q-switched laser provides high-energy pump pulses at 1.03 µm for the SPDC source, resulting in the generation of signal and idler fields. The source is characterized in terms of pulse-to-pulse spectral stability of the generated signal field. Interestingly, a high pulse-to-pulse energy stability does not necessarily lead to high spectral stability. Pulse-to-pulse spectral stability is measured at different pump pulse energies, showing improved spectral stability when operated well above the SPDC threshold.

High power, high repetition rate, tunable broadband mid-IR source based on single-pass optical parametric generation of a femtosecond laser

We report on single-pass optical parametric generation for high power, high repetition rate (RR), ultrafast broadband optical radiation in the mid-IR. Taking advantage of broad phase-matching bandwidth (BW) of the crystals for the interacting waves having zero group velocity mismatch, we have used a 50 mm long MgO-doped periodically poled LiNbO₃ crystal to develop a single-pass, parametric source producing femtosecond output pulses at a RR of 78 MHz. Pumping with a femtosecond Yb-fiber laser at 1064 nm, the source produces signal and idler radiation tunable across 1422-1561 nm and 4229-3342 nm, respectively. The signal radiation has a pulse and spectral BW of 296 fs and 9.2 nm centered at 1492 nm, respectively, with a time-BW product ∼0.37, close to the transform limit. The idler radiation has spectral BW as high as 123 nm centered at 3709 nm. The source produces a signal (idler) beam of power of 2.07 W (0.54 W) at 1492 nm (3709 nm) in a Gaussian spatial profile with peak-to-peak passive power fluctuation better than 5% (4%) over 4 h at a single-pass conversion efficiency as high as ∼55%.

Improving the efficiency of an optical parametric oscillator by tailoring the pump pulse shape

The conversion efficiency of an optical parametric oscillator is reduced by energy consumption during build-up of signal and idler intensities and due to back-conversion effects. By tailoring the pump pulse temporal shape, we are able to improve the conversion efficiency by minimizing build-up time and back-conversion. Simulations predict a significant improvement in 1064 nm to 4000 nm idler conversion by using a double-rectangular temporal shape rather than using a simple Gaussian pulse. Experimental results qualitatively verify the effect resulting in a 20% improvement of a rectangular pulse over a Gaussian pulse.

Output power and spectrum of optical parametric generator in the superfluorescent regime

Explicit expressions for the irradiance and signal spectrum of an optical parametric generator were derived. The calculation is in quantitative agreement with measurements of parametric generators with three different lengths of crystals operating in the superfluorescent regime. The measured spectrum was predicted for the entire measured range up to a gain-length product of 16, and the measured signal power was accurately derived up to a gain-length product of 10.

Group-velocity-matched optical parametric oscillator in tilted quasi-phase-matched gratings

An achromatic phase-matching scheme is reported for an optical parametric oscillator in tilted quasi-phase-matched gratings. The spectral angular dispersion is introduced in interaction waves such that each wave component satisfies the two-dimensional (noncollinear) quasi-phase matching. This is equivalent to simultaneous quasi-phase matching and group-velocity matching for ultrashort pulses. The phase-matching bandwidth for 10 mm periodically poled KTP increases by a factor of 12 at lambdas = 1.7 microm compared with one-dimensional quasi-phase matching. The effective interaction length will increase as a result of the matching.

Continuous tuning of a microlaser-pumped optical parametric generator by use of a cylindrical periodically poled lithium niobate crystal

An optical parametric generator with a cylindrical periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal and a Nd:YAG commercial microchip pump laser yields continuous tuning of the emitted wavelengths over a broad spectral range (1.42-1.7 microm and 2.8-4.2 microm), with large efficiency, a high repetition rate, and low divergence, in a compact and stable device.

Space-bandwidth product enhancement of a monostatic, multiaperture infrared image upconversion ladar receiver incorporating periodically poled liNbO3

We investigate the space-bandwidth product of a ladar system incorporating an upconversion receiver. After illuminating a target with an eye-safe beam, we direct the return into a piece of periodically poled LiNbO3 where it is upconverted into the visible spectrum and detected with a CCD camera. The theoretical and experimental transfer functions are then found. We show that the angular acceptance of the upconversion process severely limits the receiver field of regard for macroscopic coupling optics. This limitation is overcome with a pair of microlens arrays, and a 43% increase in the system's measured space-bandwidth product is demonstrated.

Distributed-feedback optical parametric oscillation by use of a photorefractive grating in periodically poled lithium niobate

We report a demonstration of distributed-feedback (DFB) optical parametric oscillation (OPO) by writing photorefractive gratings in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). The photorefractive DFB structures were fabricated by illumination of PPLN with UV light through a photomask and by writing of PPLN with UV-light gated interfering laser beams at 532 nm. Evidence of OPO was observed from the spectral narrowing at the 1438.8- and the 619.3-nm signal wavelengths from 1064- and 532-nm-pumped PPLN crystals with the DFB grating periods phase matched to the 4084.5- and 3774-nm idler wavelengths, respectively.

Broadband infrared generation with noncollinear optical parametric processes on periodically poled LiNbO(3)

Broadband signal and idler generation based on the spectral retracing behavior in noncollinear phase matching of optical parametric generation in periodically poled LiNbO(3) (PPLN) is reported. Using PPLN of 29.5-mum quasi-phase-matching period and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser as a pump, we obtained a broad signal spectrum from 1.66 to 1.96 mum and corresponding idler wavelengths from 2.328 to 2.963 mum. The experimental results were consistent with theoretical predictions. Circular and elliptical pump beams were also compared.

Optical parametric generation in 2-mum-wavelength-pumped periodically poled LiNbO(3)

An optical parametric generator based on periodically poled LiNbO(3) and pumped by a 2.051-mum-wavelength laser has been demonstrated. Pump pulses of 50-ns duration of 50-Hz repetition frequency were converted into signal and idler pulses in the 3.4-5.2-mum wavelength range in a double-pass pump configuration by a 5-cm-long quasi-phase-matched crystal. An average pump power of 180 mW generated 30-mW average signal power at 3.64-mum wavelength, corresponding to 16.7% signal conversion efficiency.

Real-time visualization of domain formation in periodically poled lithium niobate

We present video footage demonstrating real-time visualization of domain formation in periodically-poled lithium niobate (PPLN). This in-situ, non-destructive technique provides important visual information concerning the global quality and dynamics of domain patterning during the fabrication of PPLN.

Hexagonally poled lithium niobate: A two-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal

We report on the fabrication of what we believe is the first example of a two-dimensional (2D) nonlinear photonic crystal [Berger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 4136 (1998)], where the refractive index is constant but where the 2nd order nonlinear susceptibility is spatially periodic. Such crystals allow for efficient quasi-phase-matched 2nd harmonic generation using multiple reciprocal lattice vectors. External 2nd harmonic conversion efficiencies >60% were measured with picosecond pulses. The fabrication technique is extremely versatile and should allow for the fabrication of a broad range of 2D crystals including quasicrystals.

Aperture scaling effects with monolithic periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric oscillators and generators

We used elliptical beams to demonstrate aperture scaling effects in nanosecond single-grating and multigrating periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) monolithic optical parametric oscillators and generators. Increasing the cavity Fresnel number in single-grating crystals broadened both the beam divergence and the spectral bandwidth. Both effects are explained in terms of the phase-matching geometry. These effects are suppressed when a multigrating PPLN crystal is used because the individual gratings provide small effective subapertures. A flood-pumped multigrating optical parametric generator displayed a low output beam divergence and contained 19 pairs of signal and idler frequencies.