Compact, high-pulse-energy, picosecond optical parametric oscillator

We report a high-energy optical parametric oscillator (OPO) synchronously pumped by a 7.19 MHz, Yb:fiber-amplified, picosecond, gain-switched laser diode. The 42-m-long ring cavity maintains a compact design through the use of an intracavity optical fiber. The periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO(3) OPO provides output pulse energies as high as 0.49 mu J at 1.5 mu m (signal) and 0.19 mu J at 3.6 mu m (idler). Tunability from 1.5 to 1.7 mu m and from 2.9 to 3.6 mu m is demonstrated, and typical M(2) values of 1.5 x 1.3 and 2.8 x 1.9 are measured for the signal and idler, respectively, at high power. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America