Rapidly tunable continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator pumped by a fiber laser

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Laser Technology
• Nonlinear Optics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are crucial for generating tunable laser light.
• Achieving rapid wavelength tuning in OPOs is essential for dynamic spectroscopic applications.
• Traditional tuning methods often involve mechanical components, limiting speed and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate all-electronically controlled, rapid wavelength tuning of a continuous-wave OPO.
• To investigate the performance of a singly resonant OPO pumped by an ytterbium fiber laser.
• To achieve high-speed tuning of the OPO idler wave in the mid-infrared region.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a singly resonant OPO with a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal in a four-mirror ring cavity.
• Employed an ytterbium fiber laser as the pump source.
• Implemented an intracavity acousto-optic tunable filter for rapid, electronic tuning of the pump laser wavelength.

Main Results:

• Achieved electronically controlled wavelength tuning of the OPO idler from 3160 to 3500 nm.
• Demonstrated a rapid idler frequency-tuning speed of 28 THz/ms over 330 microseconds.
• Generated 1.13-W of continuous-wave idler radiation at 3200 nm with 6.6 W of pump power.

Conclusions:

• The developed OPO system offers a robust platform for high-speed, tunable mid-infrared light generation.
• All-electronic control enables precise and rapid wavelength adjustments without mechanical limitations.
• This technology has potential applications in fields requiring fast spectral measurements and dynamic optical control.