Optics Letters · 1998 · 48 citations · 8 references
EngineeringElectrical EngineeringMaterials ScienceOpticsOptoelectronicsPhotonicsFiber OpticsLaser PhysicsNonlinear OpticsOptical FibersOptical SourcesUltrafast OpticsLaser TuningLithium NiobateLithium Niobate PhotonicsOptical Parametric GenerationOptical Parametric OscillationOptical Parametric OscillatorsTuningWavelength Tuning
We describe what is to our knowledge the first nanosecond periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) driven by a fiber laser. The source was frequency doubled by a PPLN sample before pumping a second, 20-mm-long, PPLN crystal. The OPO threshold was <10muJ, with pump depletions of as much as 45% and a tunable signal range of 945-1450 nm (1690-4450-nm idler range). We demonstrated 130-nm signal tuning by varying the pump wavelength and doubling crystal's temperature. Also, we achieved 15-nm tuning with all crystals at a constant temperature. The results demonstrate the potential of the fiber laser:PPLN combination for practical, versatile, and tunable sources.
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