Stable, continuously tunable operation of a diode-pumped doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate, for what is the first time to our knowledge, long-term stable, continuously tunable operation of a doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a single-stripe diode laser without the use of an external semiconductor amplifier. The OPO is based on periodically poled lithium niobate and is pumped by a 150-mW distributed Bragg grating diode laser. 18-mW total output power is generated at 1.3- and 2.3-mum wavelengths. A cavity-length servo system allows continuous signal tuning of 17 GHz and idler tuning of 10 GHz, limited only by the range of a piezoelectric cavity mirror mount. OPO tuning is demonstrated from 1.1 to 1.4 mum and from 2.2 to 3.7 mum.