Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Walter R Bosenberg

Chung L Tang

Lap K Cheng

The operation of a .beta.-BaB.sub.2 O.sub.4 optical parametric oscillator is disclosed. The oscillator is tunable in the visible and near infrared. For example, a .beta.-BaB.sub.2 O.sub.4 crystal 10.5.times.10.5 nm.sup.2 .times.11.5 mm, cut at .theta.=30.degree. was pumped at 354.7 mm, and was tunable through 0.45-1.68 .mu.m, with a total energy conversion efficiency of 9.4%.

Tunable optical parametric oscillator

A walkoff-compensated frequency conversion system such as an optical parametric oscillator includes a pair of nonlinear crystals, such as Beta-Barium Metaborate, aligned in an optical cavity with their optical axes at an angle .THETA. with respect to the axis of the cavity. The crystals are oppositely disposed with respect to the cavity axis so that the angle between their respective optical axes is 2.THETA.. In an optical parametric oscillator, the crystals are pumped to produce optical parametric luminescence and frequency conversion, the luminescence being emitted as signal and idler beams. The opposite arrangement of the optical axes of the crystals causes the pumping beam to walk off the signal beam in the first crystal and to walk on the signal beam in the second crystal. Similar walkoff compensation is provided in other frequency conversion systems wherein crystal pairs are oppositely disposed along a cavity optical axis.

Optical walkoff compensation in critically phase-matched three-wave

An optical parametric oscillator capable of operating in the 0.300 to 0.400 micrometer wavelength range is disclosed. The oscillator includes a cavity defined at its ends by a pair of cavity resonator mirrors. A nonlinear optical crystal is positioned on the optical axis of the cavity intermediate the mirrors and is rotatable about a crystalline axis to tune the oscillator. A pair of pump steering mirrors are mounted in the cavity, one mirror between each resonator mirror and the corresponding end of the crystal. A source of pumping energy supplies energetic light to the cavity, the pumping beam being directed into the cavity and onto a first steering mirror, thence through the crystal and to the second steering mirror which then directs the pumping beam out of the cavity. The pumping beam may be at a wavelength of 266 nm, for example, to produce an output wave from the oscillator within the range of interest.

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Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Walter R Bosenberg