Ultra-broadband pulse evolution in optical parametric oscillators

Abstract

Ultrashort-pulse evolution inside a optical parametric oscillator is described by using a nonlinear-envelope-equation approach, eliminating the assumptions of fixed frequencies and a single χ((2)) process associated with conventional solutions based on the three coupled-amplitude equations. By treating the interacting waves as a single propagating field, the experimentally-observed behaviors of singly and doubly-resonant OPOs are predicted across near-octave-spanning bandwidths, including situations where the nonlinear crystal provides simultaneous phasematching for multiple nonlinear processes.