High-conversion-efficiency widely-tunable all-fiber optical parametric oscillator

A high-conversion-efficiency widely-tunable all-fiber optical parametric oscillator is described. It is based on modulation instability in the normal dispersion regime near the fiber's zero-dispersion wavelength. A 40 m long dispersion-shifted fiber is used in a synchronously pumped ring cavity. We demonstrate continuous sideband tuning from 1300 to 1500 nm and 1600 to 1860 nm by tuning the pump wavelength between 1532 and 1556 nm. Internal conversion efficiencies of up to 40% are achieved. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.