Temporal behavior of the laser pulse for intracavity optical parametric oscillator

We describe a compact, end-pumped all-solid-state, and Q-switched intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO). With this design, the relaxation oscillation type of multi-pulses produced in the intracavity OPO is eliminated. The intracavity OPO is based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO(4) (PPRTA) as the nonlinear material and is pumped by a compact diode-pumped Yb:YAG Q-switched laser at a wavelength of 1.030 microm. The pulse width (FWHM) is about 11 ns at the full pump power for both the signal and idler pulses. Output energies of 384 microJ at idler wavelength and 615 microJ at signal wavelength are obtained. We demonstrate a Q-switched IPOPO oscillator that operates the signal and idler wavelengths without relaxation oscillation type multi-pulses and with fast wavelength tuning ability for both signal and idler wavelength.