A nanosecond optical parametric generator/amplifier seeded by an external cavity diode laser
- Creators
- Wu, Sheng
- Kapinus, Vadym A.
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Blake, Geoffrey A.
Abstract
We report on the development of an injection-seeded nanosecond optical parametric generator/amplifier (ns-OPG/OPA) that combines relatively low thresholds with good conversion efficiencies. Because there is no cavity whose optical properties must be actively controlled to match the injected radiation field, external seeding over wide ranges by CW single longitudinal mode (SLM) lasers is straightforward. The seeded ns-OPG/OPA spectral resolution (650±150 MHz) is close to the pump-limited bandwidth, and the output beam has a small angular divergence (∼0.5 mrad at 628 nm). Other properties of the seeded ns-OPG/OPA, such as the efficiency (>30%), the threshold for external seeding (∼1–3 mW), and the locking range (>20–30 cm^(−1)), are also characterized. The continuous scanning and narrow spectral bandwidth of the OPG/OPA is verified in photo-acoustic absorption experiments on the third O–H stretching overtone of water near 815 nm.
Additional Information
© 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. Received 24 September 1998; accepted 3 November 1998. Support from the NSF MRI program (grant ATM-9724500, sponsored by the Atmospheric Chemistry program) is gratefully acknowledged, as is the generous donation of nonlinear optical materials and optics for this research by Casix, Inc., and Coherent, Inc. Additional support was also provided by the NASA ISR and UV/VIS Astrophysics programs.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 34072
- DOI
- 10.1016/S0030-4018(98)00609-9
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20120913-133206392
- ATM-9724500
- NSF
- NASA
- Created
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2012-09-13Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences