Pulse-to-pulse instabilities in synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We report the investigation of periodic instabilities in the synchronously pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator. Steady-state operation is observed at moderate pumping levels, whereas complex spectral behavior manifests as pumping power is increased. The nontrivial role of group delay dispersion in the origin of pulse-to-pulse instabilities is observed. Sequences of single pulse spectra are recorded showing energy repartition between separate spectral components. The relation between pump power and the resonator’s group delay dispersion is investigated experimentally and numerically.