Stable low noise 1.5 µm laser generated by a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We present a stable low noise continuous wave (CW) single frequency 1.5 µm laser generated by an output-coupled singly resonant optical parametric oscillator based on a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) and a home-made CW single frequency Nd:YVO4 laser at 1.064 µm as the pump source. A maximum signal power of 5.3 W can be obtained at a pump power of 16 W. The long-term power stability is better than ±0.9% in a given two hours and the intensity noise reaches the shot noise limit for frequencies above 3 MHz. The signal wavelength can be tuned from 1.560 to 1.592 µm with PPLN temperature controlled from 120 to 180 °C. This kind of laser source can be used in quantum information processing research.