Tunable β-barium borate optical parametric oscillator: operating characteristics with and without injection seeding

Abstract

The operating characteristics of a pulsed β-barium borate optical parametric oscillator, pumped at 355 nm by a single-mode Nd:YAG laser, are described. This device operates with high conversion efficiency (up to 61%) and high output energy (>100 mJ) over most of its wide tuning range (0.41–2.7 μm). Continuous narrow-band tuning over as wide a range as 140 cm−1 is achieved by injection seeding with light from a tunable pulsed dye laser. The spectroscopic potential of this narrow-band β-barium borate optical parametric oscillator is demonstrated by recording photoacoustic spectra of acetylene gas in the near-infrared spectral range.