Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Mohan Vaidyanathan

Gerald Pray Griffith

Peter H Mui

Ronald K Meyer

William Pekny

The present invention relates generally to the field of optical devices and particularly to embodiments of a three-stage PPLN optical parametric oscillator/difference-frequency generator configuration. The present invention allows simultaneous generation of three wavelengths in efficient use of the pump signal. The structure of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a first PPLN element having first and second grating regions, and a second PPLN element having its own grating period. An input coupler is positioned at the input and exit ends of a resonator cavity and the first PPLN element is positioned between the input coupler and the second PPLN element. A second embodiment of the present invention includes a single PPLN element having three separate grating regions. The single PPLN element is positioned between input and output coupler mirrors. A third embodiment of the present invention includes a single PPLN element having three grating regions. The input and output couplers are affixed directly to the input and exit facets of the PPLN element.

Line periodically poled LiNbO.sub.3 (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator

The present invention relates generally to the field of optical devices and particularly to embodiments of a four-stage PPLN optical parametric oscillator/difference-frequency generator configuration. The present invention allows simultaneously and colinear generation of four wavelengths in efficient use of the pump signal. A first embodiment comprises a singly resonant cavity having an internal monolithic non-linear optical medium disposed in the cavity. The cavity is bounded by an input mirror and an output mirror. The monolithic non-linear optical medium is divided into four regions each having its own grating period. A second embodiment of the present invention comprises a monolithic non-linear optical medium divided into four separate regions. The entrance facet and exit facet of the monolithic non-linear optical medium includes a coating which acts as the cavity mirrors.

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Algonguin, IL, United States of America

Mohan Vaidyanathan