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Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
Periodic mode hopping induced by thermo-optic effects in continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators
Optics Letters
|December 1, 2007
Summary
Thermal effects cause periodic mode hopping in continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). This instability, observed in experiments, is explained by a thermo-optic model and is expected in various high-power setups.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear optics
- Laser physics
- Quantum optics
Background:
- Continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are crucial light sources in various scientific fields.
- Understanding mode dynamics and instabilities is essential for optimizing OPO performance and stability.
- Previous studies have explored various mechanisms for mode hopping, but thermal effects in specific OPO configurations require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of thermal effects in inducing periodic mode hopping in continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (OPOs).
- To identify the conditions under which thermal effects lead to mode hopping instability in triply and doubly resonant OPOs.
- To experimentally validate the theoretical predictions using a type II OPO and compare with a thermo-optic model.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of mode stability in resonant optical cavities considering thermal effects.
- Experimental implementation of a type II OPO in both triply and doubly resonant configurations.
- Development and application of a simple thermo-optic multimode model to simulate OPO behavior.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that thermal effects can lead to periodic mode hopping in cw OPOs.
- Identified that mode hopping occurs when two modes have different intensities at their stability exchange point, a condition met in resonant OPOs.
- Experimentally observed these oscillations in a type II OPO and confirmed the model's ability to reproduce experimental regimes.
Conclusions:
- Thermal effects represent a significant mechanism for inducing periodic mode hopping in cw OPOs.
- The thermo-optic multimode model accurately describes the observed experimental regimes.
- This mechanism is expected to be relevant for various multimode instabilities in high-power optical parametric oscillator systems.
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