Low-pump-threshold tunable optical parametric oscillator using periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3

We fabricated and characterized periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 device with five gratings in 0.5 mu m increments from 29 mu m to 31 mu m for optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO operation threshold is 30 mu J using this device with a 50 mm effective length. At 560 mW input pump power, we have achieved 300 mW of the total output power, and the conversion efficiency is 54%. Multi-periods and temperatures tuning of the OPO yields a signal wavelength range from 1.45 to 1.72 mu m and an idler wavelength range from 2.8 to 4.05 mu m in the mid infrared. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.