S. French

Design and performance of a singly resonant picosecond LiB 3 O 5 optical parametric oscillator synchronously pumped by a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser

The design and the operating characteristics of a high-repetition-rate, singly resonant picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on temperature-tuned LiB3O5 and synchronously pumped by a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 81 MHz are described. It is shown that LiB3O5 is an excellent nonlinear material candidate for parametric generation of ultrashort pulses because of its broad tunability, small spatial and temporal walk-off, wide acceptance bandwidths, and low dispersion. With a 30-mm-long LiB3O5 crystal cut for noncritical type-I phase matching, average output powers of as much as 325 mW have been obtained at 1.8 times the 650-mW threshold. We demonstrate continuous tuning from 1.15 to 2.26 μm with a single crystal, limited by the tunability of the Ti:sapphire pump laser. For 1.8-ps input pump pulses, transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1–1.2 ps and idler pulses with durations of 2–2.2 ps have been generated over 1.2–2.2 μm without requiring dispersion compensation.

Picosecond Ti:sapphire-pumped optical parametric oscillator based on LiB(3)O(5).

We report a high-repetition-rate, singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on the nonlinear crystal LiB(3)O(5), which is synchronously pumped by a continuous train of picosecond pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. Under temperature-tuned noncritical type I phase matching, total average near-infrared output powers of 90 mW at a repetition rate of 81 MHz have been generated over a signal (idler) tuning range of 1.374-1.530 microm (1.676-1.828 microm). Without dispersion compensation, transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 520-780 fs have been obtained at 1.2 times threshold for 1.8-ps input pump pulses.

High-power, high-repetition-rate picosecond optical parametric oscillator for the near- to mid-infrared.

A high-repetition-rate, singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on KTiOAsO(4) and synchronously pumped by a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser is reported. Under the conditions of pump-tuned noncritical type II phase matching, average near-infrared output powers of 403 mW have been generated at a repetition rate of 81 MHz. With the available mirror set, signal tuning over 1.116-1.281 microm and idler tuning over 2.260-3.160 microm are demonstrated for a range of pump wavelengths. Without dispersion compensation, signal (idler) pulses with durations of 1.01-1.03 (1.61-2.91) ps have been obtained for 1.2-ps input pump pulses.

HIGH-POWER, HIGH-REPETITION-RATE PICOSECOND OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR TUNABLE IN THE VISIBLE

We describe an intracavity frequency-doubled high repetition-rate picosecond optical parametric oscillator for the visible based solely on the nonlinear crystal LiB(3)O(5) and synchronously pumped by a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. Under temperature-tuned noncritical type I and type II phase matching, average visible output powers of 320 mW have been generated at an 81-MHz repetition rate. With the available mirror set, continuous tuning from 584 to 771 nm is demonstrated for a range of phase-matching temperatures. Transform-limited pulses with durations of 840-880 fs have been obtained across the visible range for pump pulse durations of 1-1.2 ps.

Non-critically phase-matched, Ti:Sapphire-pumped picosecond optical parametric oscillator using LiB3O5

We report a new source of high-repetition rate and widely tunable picosecond pulses for the near infrared. A singly resonant, cw, picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on temperature-tuned LiB3O5 and synchronously pumped by 1.8 ps pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser is demonstrated. The oscillator can provide average output powers of up to 90 mW under non-critical type-I phase matching at a pulse repetition rate of 81 MHz. Without dispersion compensation, transform-limited signal pulses with 720 fs durations have been generated at 1.2 times threshold. With the available mirror set, signal tuning over 1.374–1.530 µm and idler tuning over 1.676–1.828 µm is demonstrated for a range of pump wavelengths and phase-matching temperatures. With additional mirrors, continuous tuning throughout 1–2.7 µm should be readily attainable with a single LiB3O5 crystal.

Picosecond near- to mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator using KTiOAsO4

The operation and characterization of a high-repetition-rate singly-resonant picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on the non-linear material KTiOAsO4 and synchronously pumped by a Kerr-lens-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 81 MHz is described. By utilizing non-critical type II phase-matching in a 10 mm crystal, average near-infrared output powers of 403 mW have been generated at 31% extraction efficiency. The oscillator exhibits a pump power threshold of 230 mW and with the available mirror set can provide signal tuning over 1.116–1.281 μm and idler tuning over 2.260–3.160 μm by tuning the pump wavelength over 770–896 nm. Without dispersion compensation, near-transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1.01–1.03 ps and idler pulses with 1.61–2.91 ps duration have been obtained for 1.2 ps input pump pulses.

High-power, high-repetition-rate picosecond optical parametric oscillators for the near-to mid-infrared

Abstract We report high-repetition-rate, singly-resonant, picosecond optical parametric oscillators based on the nonlinear crystals LiB3O5 and KTiOAsO4 which are synchronously pumped by a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser operating at 81 MHz. These devices allow tunable pulse generation from 1·116-3·160 μm to be achieved. The LiB3O5 system produces average nearinfrared output powers of 325 mW and is continuous tuning over the wavelength range 1·16-2·26 μm. For 1·8 ps input pump pulses, transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1-1·2 ps and idler pulses with durations of 2-2·2 ps have been generated over 1·2-2·2 μm, without requirement for dispersion compensation. The KTiOAsO4 system produces average near-infrared output powers of 403 mW, with the signal tuning over 1·116-1·281 μm and idler tuning over 2·260-3·160 μm. Without dispersion compensation, signal (idler) pulses with durations between 1·01-1·03 (1·61-2·91) ps have been obtained for 1·2 ps input pump pulses.

Visible picosecond pulse generation in a frequency doubled optical parametric oscillator based on LiB3O5

Abstract We report the attainment of transform-limited pulses across the entire tuning range of a high-repetition-rate, synchronously-pumped picosecond optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) based on LiB 3 O 5 , by the inclusion of dispersion compensation in the positive dispersive regime of the crystal. This system which is synchronously pumped by 1.1 ps pump pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 81 MHz, generated transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1–1.2 ps and idler pulses with durations of 2–2.2 ps over the continuous wavelength range of 1.16–2.26 μm at average powers of 580 mW. By external frequency doubling output signal pulses from the SPOPO in noncritically phase-matched, temperature-tuned LiB 3 O 5 , we have produced transform-limited picosecond pulses in the visible range from 584 to 771 nm at average powers of up to 68 mW. Second harmonic pulses with durations between 840 and 880 fs have been obtained for signal durations of 1–1.2 ps.

Visible Picosecond Pulse Generation in a Frequency Doubled Optical Parametric Oscillator Based on LiB3O5

We report the external frequency-doubling of a high-repetition-rate, picosecond optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) based on LiB3O5. This SPOPO which is synchronously pumped by 1.1 ps pump pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 81 MHz, generated transfom-limited signal pulses with durations of 1-1.2 ps and idler pulses with durations of 2-2.2 ps over the continuous wavelength range of 1.16-2.26 µm at average powers of 580 mW. By external frequency doubling output signal pulses from this system in noncritically phase-matched, temperature-tuned LiB3O5, we have produced transform-limited picosecond pulses in the visible range from 584 to 771 nm at average powers of up to 68 mW. Second harmonic pulses with durations between 840 and 880 fs have been obtained for signal durations of 1-1.2 ps.