Non-collinear nanosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled LN with tilted domain walls

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 649 - 653
• Main Authors: LIANG, X, BARTSCHKE, J, PELTZ, M, L'HUILLIER, J. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-06-2007
• Subjects: Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation; Beams (radiation); Conversion; Diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Holes; Laser optical systems: design and operation; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nonlinear optics; Optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers; Optics; Physics; Pumps; Optical parametric oscillators; Non linear material; Radiation quality; Optical phase matching; Ternary compounds; Optical resonators; Lithium niobates; Poled material; Optical materials; Nonlinear optics; ns range
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-007-2645-3

We report on a non-collinear, 1064 nm pumped, 10 kHz repetition rate ns-OPO which consists of a 13 mm long periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal in a hemispherical optical cavity. The non-collinear phase-matching is achieved by tilting the domains by 60? with respect to the pump beam. This phase-matching avoids back conversion of signal and idler radiation into pump radiation and thus improves the spatial quality of the generated OPO radiation considerably. At a pump power of 5.5 W the OPO provided a conversion efficiency of up to 34%. The generated OPO pulses with a total power of up to 1.85 W were emitted in an almost diffraction limited beam with a M2-value of 1.1. The beam quality did not change when the pump power was varied in the range of 2--5 W.