Jean-Philippe Fève

High average power diamond Raman laser

We report a pulsed Raman laser at 1193 nm based on synthetic diamond crystals with a record output power of 24.5 W and a slope efficiency of 57%. We compared the performance of an anti-reflection coated crystal at normal incidence with a Brewster cut sample. Raman oscillation was achieved at both room temperature and under cryogenic operation at 77 K. Modeling of these experiments allowed us to confirm the value of Raman gain coefficient of diamond, which was found to be 13.5 ± 2.0 cm/GW for a pump wavelength of 1030 nm.

Widely and continuously tunable optical parametric oscillator based on a cylindrical periodically poled KTiOPO 4 crystal

We report on what is to our knowledge the first realization of a quasi-phase-matched optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a crystal with a cylindrical shape. The main reason for interest in this device is its broad, continuous tuning. In experiments with a 1064-nm pump, the signal tuning range was equal to 525 nm (1515-2040 nm), and the corresponding idler was continuously tuned over 1340 nm (2220-3560 nm). The angular tuning was 26 degrees , with only a minor variation of the OPO threshold over the entire tuning range.

Thermo-optical effect and saturation of nonlinear absorption induced by gray tracking in a 532-nm-pumped KTP optical parametric oscillator.

We present experiments that show that gray tracking modifies the parametric gain and the generated wavelengths of a KTP optical parametric oscillator pumped at 532 nm near degeneracy. These perturbations occur over a limited range of pump intensity. We propose a satisfactory model that takes into account photochromic damage, the thermo-optical effect, and the combined processes of creation and saturation of a two-photon absorber at 532 nm. The temperature dependence of Sellmeier equations of KTP is also established at 20-200 degrees C.

Phase-matching and mitigation of four-wave mixing in fibers with positive gain.

We present a theoretical study of four-wave mixing interactions in fibers in the presence of gain. In contrast to passive fibers, positive gain at the pump wavelength leads to constructive generation of the signal and idler waves, even in the case of large phase-mismatch, so that FWM processes can be very efficient even in isotropic single-mode fibers with normal dispersion. We also propose simple ways to mitigate these parametric interactions by applying a controlled variation of the phase-mismatch along the fiber. These concepts apply to all optical amplifiers.

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.

High-power fiber amplifier with widely tunable repetition rate, fixed pulse duration, and multiple output wavelengths

We report a pulsed, fiber-amplified microchip laser providing widely tunable repetition rate (7.1 - 27 kHz) with constant pulse duration (1.0 ns), pulse energy up to 0.41 mJ, linear output polarization, diffraction-limited beam quality (M(2) < 1.2), and < 1% pulse-energy fluctuations. The pulse duration was shown to minimize nonlinear effects that cause temporal and spectral distortion of the amplified pulses. This source employs passive Q-switching, single-stage single-pass amplification, and cw pumping, thus offering high efficiency, simplicity, and compact, rugged packaging for use in practical applications. The high peak power and high beam quality make this system an ideal pump source for nonlinear frequency conversion, and we demonstrated efficient harmonic generation and optical parametric generation of wavelengths from 213 nm to 4.4 mum with Watt-level output powers.

Tunable phase-matched optical parametric oscillators based on a cylindrical crystal

The use of cylindrical nonlinear crystals is a good way to extend the angular-tuning capability of optical parametric oscillators. We consider the example of a 1064-nm-pumped KTiOPO4 optical parametric oscillator phase matched in the x–z plane. A 31.5° angular tuning is demonstrated, limited by the spectral range of the mirrors. The measured slope efficiency and threshold energy are compared with the values published for a similar optical parametric oscillator that uses a parallelepipedic crystal. We study the beam quality of the emitted signal. The experiments with a plano–plano cavity point out the spatial-filtering effect due to the short focal length of the cylindrical crystal placed in the cavity. A simple model based on the coupling of the pump and the signal Gaussian beams in the cavity is developed. We then investigate the respective effects of the different experimental parameters on the output beam quality: radius of curvature of the mirrors, cavity length, crystal radius, pump-beam waist size, and spectral-tuning range of the signal beam. These calculations lead to the definition of the optimum configuration associated with a low M2 independent of the emitted wavelength. An experimental demonstration of that solution is given with excellent results: M2<1.5 is obtained, constant over 9° angular tuning.

Fiber-based laser with tunable repetition rate, fixed pulse duration, and multiple wavelength output

We report a pulsed, Nd:YAG (1064 nm) microchip laser amplified by a mode-filtered, Yb-doped fiber amplifier. The system provided a widely tunable repetition rate (7.1-27 kHz) with constant pulse duration (1.0 ns), pulse energy up to 0.41 mJ, linear output polarization, diffraction-limited beam quality, and <1% pulse-energy fluctuations. Detailed spectral and temporal characterization of the output pulses revealed the effects of four-wave mixing and stimulated Raman scattering, and we investigated the effects of fiber length and Yb-doping level on system performance. The amplifier output was efficiently converted to a variety of wavelengths between 213 and 4400 nm by harmonic generation and optical parametric generation, with Watt-level output powers. The laser system employs a simple architecture and is therefore suitable for use in practical applications.

Extended sphere method for complete investigation of the phase-matching properties of sum- and difference-frequency generation

We demonstrate the feasibility of a complete experimental investigation of the phase-matching properties of sum- and difference-frequency generation in a single crystal cut as a sphere over its entire transparency range. The class of the studied crystal is the only initial data that is required. This feasibility study was carried out with rubidium titanyl arsenate.

Mid-infrared laser source with high average power and high repetition rate

An amplified passively Q-switched laser at 35kHz pumps an optical parametric generator to generate 1.5W around 1.5μm. Proper control of thermal lensing due to absorption of idler beam is critical for power scaling.