Multi-mode dynamics of optical oscillators based on intracavity nonlinear frequency down-conversion

Abstract

The transient power characteristics of two optical oscillators—a difference frequency generator (ICDFG) and a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (ICSRO)—based on intracavity nonlinear optical frequency conversion, are described. The simulation has been performed via the rate-equation mathematical model, which features a multi-mode behavior of all optical fields. The reason for unattainability of single-mode emission in these devices without an additional frequency-selective element (e.g., a Fabry–Perot etalon) is clarified. It is shown that the dynamics of a short-wavelength emission (pump) results mainly from the nonlinear optical interaction, while that of the longer-wavelength optical fields (signal and idler) depends on selectivity of the etalon. With the suitable etalons inserted in their cavities, both devices are shown to operate dynamically single-mode under conventional experimental conditions. The nonlinear interaction makes the pump emission collapse to the single-mode operation very fast (it takes no more than a few tens of the photon lifetimes). To overcome the threshold of parametric generation, the intracavity pump power in the ICSRO has to exceed $$\sim 100$$ W, while the ICDFG is essentially a “thresholdless” device.