Open AccessBroadband conversion in an Yb:KYW-pumped ultrafast optical parametric oscillator with a long nonlinear crystal
Author(s) -
Zhaowei Zhang,
Jinghua Sun,
Tom Gardiner,
Derryck T. Reid
Publication year - 2011
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.19.017127
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , ultrashort pulse , optical parametric oscillator , laser , nonlinear optics , broadband , amplifier , optical parametric amplifier , bandwidth (computing) , optoelectronics , pulse compression , optical amplifier , parametric oscillator , fiber laser , photonic crystal fiber , physics , telecommunications , wavelength , radar , cmos , computer science
We report the generation of 200-nm-bandwidth mid-infrared pulses at 3.5-µm from an optical parametric oscillator incorporating a 25-mm MgO:PPLN crystal and synchronously-pumped by chirped pulses from a fiber-amplified Yb:KYW laser. A long nonlinear crystal permits efficient transfer of the pump bandwidth into the idler pulses, achieves exceptional passive stability and enables pumping using chirped pulses directly from a fiber-amplifier, avoiding the need to use lossy pulse-compression optics.