Intracavity optical parametric oscillator: Study of the dynamics in pulsed regime

We have studied the dynamical properties of the optical parametric oscillator when it is inserted into the pump-laser cavity. The temporal evolutions of the population inversion and of the pump and signal intracavity powers are modeled by a simple system of coupled equations. Numerical simulations show that the optical parametric oscillator can produce one or several pulses, depending on the signal cavity finesse and the pumping level of the laser medium. The main characteristics of the pulses are deduced from an analytical study of the equations. The energy transfer efficiency from the laser medium to the signal pulses is predicted to be up to 80%. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America