Open AccessStable, continuous-wave, intracavity, optical parametric oscillator pumped by a semiconductor disk laser (VECSEL)
Author(s) -
David J. M. Stothard,
James F. Hopkins,
D. Burns,
M.H. Dunn
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.010648
Subject(s) - materials science , optical parametric oscillator , optics , laser , disk laser , optoelectronics , laser power scaling , laser pumping , semiconductor laser theory , laser linewidth , optical pumping , laser diode , continuous wave , diode , physics
We report relaxation oscillation free, true continuous-wave operation of a singly-resonant, intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based upon periodically-poled, MgO-doped LiNbO3 and pumped internal to the cavity of a compact, optically-excited semiconductor disk laser (or VECSEL). The very short upper-laser-state lifetime of this laser gain medium, coupled with the enhancing effect of the high-finesse pump laser cavity in which the OPO is located, enables a low threshold, high efficiency intracavity device to be operated free of relaxation oscillations in continuous-wave mode. By optimizing for low-power operation, parametric threshold was achieved at a diode-laser power of only 1.4 W. At 8.5 W of diode-laser power, 205 mW of idler power was extracted, indicating a total down-converted power of 1.25 W, and hence a down-conversion efficiency of 83%.