Picosecond infrared optical parametric generation in KTP using a diode-laser-pumped solid-state laser

We report the generation of tunable picosecond pulses in the near infrared by synchronous pumping of an optical parametric oscillator based on the crystal KTP with a frequency-doubled, actively mode-locked, Q-switched, diode-laser-pumped Nd:YLF laser at 523.5 nm. The oscillator provides tunable radiation over the ranges of 0.946-1.020 microm and 1.075-1.172 microm in pulses of ~8-ps duration, with average output powers approaching 2 mW, at a 500-Hz repetition rate. The threshold Q-switched pulse energy was 4 microJ, and pump depletions as high as 56% were observed when pumping 5.5 times above threshold. At this pumping intensity the amplitude stability of the optical parametric oscillator output pulses was +/-2%.