Tunable optical parametric oscillator based on a KTP crystal, pumped by a pulsed Ti3+:Al2O3 laser

Abstract

We present the characteristics of an optical parametric oscillator based on a KTP crystal, pumped with noncritical phase matching by a pulsed Ti3+:Al2O3 laser, tunable in the range 677–970 nm. Tunable generation of signal and idler waves is obtained in the ranges 1030–1390 nm and 2690–3050 nm respectively. The efficiency of conversion of the pump to the signal wave is ≈23%, which for pulses of duration ≈8 nsec ensures an energy in the range 1.0–11.5 mJ. The width of the emission spectrum for the signal wave is within the range 0.8–1.8 nm and is predominantly determined by the linewidth of the Ti3+:Al2O3 pump laser.