REPETITIVELY PUMPED OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR AT 2.13 μ

Abstract

The operation of an optical parametric oscillator which is directly pumped by the 1.06-μ output of a continuously pumped, repetitively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is described. The oscillator uses a 3-mm lithium niobate crystal in a non−90° orientation as the nonlinear material. 17 mW of average output power at 2 μ have been obtained giving an oscillator conversion efficiency of 8%. Measurements are also reported of pump power threshold, pump depletion, and wavelength tuning of the oscillator. No optically induced index inhomogeneities were observed in the lithium niobate.