Periodically Poled MgO-doped Lithium Niobate Research Articles

A systematic study of PPLN length dependence in intracavity SHG

In this paper, a systematic study of the relationship between nonlinear crystal length and intracavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) using MgO-doped periodically-poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) is presented. The experimental results demonstrate a relationship between the maximum SHG power generated and the full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of the crystal’s temperature tuning curve to the length of the nonlinear optical crystal. It was shown that maximum SHG power increases rapidly with the increase of MgO:PPLN length, reaching a saturation length (~ 2 mm), which is much shorter than that predicted by the single-pass SHG theory. This saturation length of the MgO:PPLN crystal is almost independent on 808 nm pump power for typical powers used in continuous wave intracavity SHG lasers. In addition to this saturation effect, a broadening effect was also observed, the FWHM of the temperature tuning curve was shown to have a larger FWHM than that predicted by the single-pass SHG theory for MgO:PPLN shorter than the saturation length. This work has the benefit of allowing engineers to optimize nonlinear crystal length when developing intracavity SHG based diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers.

Study of fundamental wave depletion in intracavity second harmonic generation.

In this paper, a novel approach to modelling intracavity second harmonic generation (SHG) in periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPLN) is presented and verified against experimental results. This approach involves combining the coupled nonlinear wave equations with a rate equation model for a diode-pumped solid-state Nd:YVO4 laser, taking into account both the depletion of the fundamental wave due to the energy conversion from the fundamental wave to the SHG wave and the reduction of the fundamental wave within a laser cavity due to the loss as a result of the SHG nonlinear process. It was shown that the theoretical simulation matched the experimental results well, while also providing physical insight into the importance of the fundamental wave depletion in the intracavity SHG nonlinear processes. The resulting model is computationally simple and has the potential to generalize to the other nonlinear processes such as three-wave mixing and optical parametric oscillation.

Femtosecond optical parametric oscillators toward real-time dual-comb spectroscopy

We demonstrate mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy with an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) toward real-time field measurement. A singly resonant OPO based on a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal is demonstrated. Chirped mirrors are used to compensate the dispersion caused by the optical cavity and the crystal. A low threshold of 17 mW has been achieved. The OPO source generates a tunable idler frequency comb between 2.7 and 4.7 μm. Dual-comb spectroscopy is achieved by coupling two identical Yb-fiber mode-locked lasers to this OPO with slightly different repetition frequencies. A measured absorption spectrum of methane is presented with a spectral bandwidth of $$300\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ , giving an instrumental resolution of $$0.4\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ . In addition, a second OPO containing two MgO-doped PPLN crystals in a singly resonant ring cavity is demonstrated. As such, this OPO generates two idler combs (average power up to 220 mW), covering a wavelength range between 2.7 and 4.2 μm, from which a mid-infrared dual-comb Fourier transform spectrometer is constructed. By detecting the heterodyned signal between the two idler combs, broadband spectra of molecular gases can be observed over a spectral bandwidth of more than $$350\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ . This special cavity design allows the spectral resolution to be improved to $$0.2\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ without locking the OPO cavity, indicating that this OPO represents an ideal high-power broadband mid-infrared source for real-time gas sensing.

Intensity modulation of light by light in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate crystal

In this Letter, we investigate a method for controlling the intensity of a light by another light in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN) crystal with a transverse applied external electric field. The power of the emergent light can be modulated by the power ratio of the incident ordinary and extraordinary beams. The light intensity control is experimentally demonstrated by the Mach–Zehnder interference configuration, and the results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

High-repetition-rate mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator based on PPMgOLN

A compact source of high-repetition-rate, high-efficiency, mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgOLN) was reported. To ensure high conversion efficiency at high repetition rate, a high beam quality and high peak power Q-switched pump source was developed specially. The performances at different repetition rates were compared and average output power of 8.7 W at 3.8 μm was obtained when the pump power was 48 W at the repetition rate of 120 kHz with an optimal plane-concave resonator configuration. The conversion efficiency from the 1.06 μm laser to the 3.8 μm laser was 18.1%.

Mode overlap analyses of propagated waves in direct bonded PPMgLN ridge waveguide

Direct bonded periodically poled MgO doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN) ridge waveguide is a new wavelength converter with high conversion efficiency. The optical field distribution of the ridge waveguide is simulated by employing finite-difference method (FDM), the mode overlap of propagated waves in the ridge waveguide is calculated and the relationship between the overlap coefficient and the waveguide structure sizes is also investigated. The overlap coefficient to difference frequency generation (DFG) process conversion efficiency calculation is firstly introduced.

High-efficiency, high-repetition-rate, temperature-tuning optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate

We report a compact and viable source of high-efficiency, high-repetition-rate, temperature-tuning, mid-IR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgOLN) pumped by a homemade high power AOM Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser centered at 1.064 μm. With an optimal plane-concave resonator configuration, average output power of 5.7 W at 2.73 μm was obtained when the pump power was 25 W at the repetition rate of 80 kHz. The conversion efficiency from the 1.064 μm laser to the 2.73 μm laser was 22.8%. Temperature tuning of the OPO yielded a signal wavelength range from 1.67 to 1.75 μm and an idler wavelength in the range of 2.72 to 2.92 μm.

High-average-power, high-repetition-rate dual signal optical parametric oscillator based on PPMgLN

A high-average-power, high-repetition-rate dual signal optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgLN) with a phase-reversed grating is reported. The pump laser is an acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser with a maximum average power of 7.6 W. When the repetition rate is 50 kHz and the pulse width of the pump source is 23 ns, the maximum average dual signal output power is about 1.9 W, leading to a conversion efficiency of 25%. Over a 30-min interval, the instability of the signal power measured is less than 0.5%.

EFFICIENT DUAL SIGNAL OUTPUT FROM A Nd:YVO4 LASER-PUMPED PPMgLN OPO

We report an efficient dual signal wave intracavity optical parametric oscillator (IOPO) inside a diode-end-pumped acousto-optically Q-switched Nd : YVO 4 laser. The nonlinear crystal in the IOPO is periodically poled MgO -doped lithium niobate ( PPMgLN ) with a phase-reversed grating. In the experiment, dual signal waves at 1475.1 nm and 1489.8 nm are achieved at a crystal temperature of 40°C. At an incident diode pump power of 6.1 W and a Q-switch repetition rate of 19 kHz, an average dual signal output power of 0.66 W is achieved, leading to a conversion efficiency of 10.8%. During half an hour, the instability of the dual signal waves is less than 1.5% (rms).

20.2: High‐Efficiency Green Laser Source for Compact Projectors

AbstractWe demonstrate a novel green laser source, based on a monolithic cavity microchip laser platform. The use of our highly efficient, Periodically Poled MgO‐doped Lithium Niobate (PPMgOLN) as the frequency doubler allows obtaining a significant increase in the overall efficiency of the green microchip laser. Specifically, we demonstrate 200mW green output and >10% wall‐plug efficiency in the 35°C temperature range.

PPLN 비선형 결정과 이중통과법을 이용한 DOFA 시스템에서 증폭된 연속발진형 파장가변 적외선 레이저광의 제 2고조파 발생

주기적으로 분극 반전된 비선형 결정 중에 하나인 PPLN(Periodically Poled MgO(5%) doped Lithium Niobate)과 수 W급의 고출력 연속발진형 파장가변 적외선 레이저 시스템인 DOFA(Diode Laser Oscillator & Fiber Amplifier) 시스템을 이용하여, 이 결정에서 펌핑광을 한번 통과시키는 단일통과와 두 번 통과시키는 이중통과에서의 효율적인 제2고조파 발생 조건을 실험적으로 구하였다. 단일통과에서는 최적의 위상정합온도 <TEX>$108.9^{\circ}C$</TEX>에서 최대 출력 2.45 W의 적외선(파장 = 1070 nm) 펌핑광을 사용하여 최대 245 mW의 녹색광원(파장 = 535 nm)인 제 2고조파를 만들었고, 이때의 주파수 변환 효율은 10%였다. 또한 제 2고조파 발생의 효율을 증가시키기 위해서 되 반사용 오목거울과 위상보정을 위한 쐐기유리판을 이용하여 이중통과의 제2고조파 발생장치를 구성하였다. 이때 최적의 위상정합온도 <TEX>$108.5^{\circ}C$</TEX>에서 최대 출력 2.45 W의 적외선(파장 = 1070 nm) 펌핑광을 사용하여 최대 383 mW의 녹색광원(파장 = 535 nm)인 제 2고조파를 만들었다. 이때의 변환 효율은 15.6%로써 단일통과에서의 제 2고조파 발생 효율보다 크게 증가함을 확인하였다. The optimum conditions of second harmonic generation (SHG) can be successfully achieved experimentally using single pass and double pass methods of a pumping beam. The beam has a power of several Watts radiated by a DOFA (Diode Laser Oscillator & Fiber Amplifier) system, which is a high power CW wavelength tunable infrared laser system, in a PPLN (Periodically Poled MgO doped Lithium Niobate) nonlinear crystal. In the case of a single pass method, the parameters are the wavelength of 535 nm for SHG and the output power of 245 mW generated from the pumping input beam with wavelength of 1070 nm and the power of 2.45 W at phase matching temperature of <TEX>$108.9^{\circ}C$</TEX>. The conversion efficiency of SHG was 10%. In order to enhance the output of SHG, the double pass method of the SHG system of a PPLN using a concave mirror for the retroreflection and a pair of wedged flat windows for phase compensation was also presented. In this double pass system, we obtained the SHG output beam with the wavelength of 535 nm and the maximum power of 383 mW at optimum phase matching temperature of <TEX>$108.5^{\circ}C$</TEX> by using an incident pumping beam with wavelength of 1070 nm and the power of 2.45 W. The maximum conversion efficiency is 15.6%, which is more than that of the single pass method.

Widely tunable, high-repetition-rate, dual signal-wave optical parametric oscillator by using two periodically poled crystals

This paper reports on a high-repetition-rate dual signal-wave (DSW) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating at the 1.5μm band with tunable wavelength intervals from 2.5nm to 69.1nm. Two periodically poled crystals, a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) with multiple gratings and a single grating MgO-doped PPLN (PPMgOLN), are cascaded in the same OPO cavity to generate dual signal-waves by using quasi-phase-matched (QPM) technique. The pump source was a Q-switched diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser operating at 50kHz. At an incident pump power of 3W, an average output power of 169.6mW at 1489.2nm and 1558.3nm has been achieved.

40-GHz picosecond-pulse second-harmonic generation in an MgO-doped PPLN waveguide

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) of 40-GHz picosecond optical pulses with different pulsewidths, pulse energies, and central wavelengths in a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide is studied experimentally and theoretically. In the experiments, the picosecond pulses are generated from a 40-GHz mode-locked fiber laser and two tunable filters, with which the lasing wavelength can be tuned from 1530 to 1570 nm, and the pulsewidth can be tuned from 2 to 7 ps. The second-harmonic (SH) pulses are generated when the picosecond pump pulses pass through the MgO-doped PPLN waveguide. Dependences of SHG on pump pulsewidth, average pump power, and pump central wavelength are then investigated systematically. Meanwhile, dynamic behaviors of both pump and SH pulses in propagation are simulated numerically. Based on the temporal and spectral characteristics of SHG, a quantitative and systematic analysis on SHG efficiencies in terms of both pulse energy and spectral peak is presented. The simulation results are in good agreement with the measured data