Title :
Phase-Modulation-Mode-Locked Continuous-Wave MgO:PPLN Optical Parametric Oscillator
Author :
Devi, Kavita ; Chaitanya Kumar, S. ; Ebrahim-Zadeh, M.
Author_Institution :
ICFO-Inst. de Cienc. Fotoniques, Castelldefels, Spain
Abstract :
We report phase-modulation mode-locking of a continuous-wave (cw) singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) in the near- and mid-infrared based on MgO-doped periodically poled LiNbO3 (MgO:PPLN) and pumped by an Yb-fiber laser at 1064 nm. By investigating the spectral output and pulse formation characteristics of the OPO, we observe a clear transition from an unstable spectrum in cw operation to a stable and smooth profile under phase modulation, confirming mode-locked operation. Pulse generation and spectral characteristics under different operating conditions are studied, including the effects of the location of the intracavity phase modulator and the number of oscillating modes on mode-locked output pulse duration.
Keywords :
laser mode locking; lithium compounds; magnesium compounds; optical modulation; optical parametric oscillators; optical pulse generation; optical pumping; phase modulation; LiNbO3:MgO; OPO; continuous-wave MgO:PPLN optical parametric oscillator; intracavity phase modulator; mode locking; oscillating modes; phase modulation; pulse formation; pulse generation; spectral characteristics; wavelength 1064 nm; Cavity resonators; Laser excitation; Laser mode locking; Modulation; Optical pulse generation; Oscillators; Pump lasers; Optical parametric oscillators; mode-locked lasers; near- and mid-infrared sources; nonlinear optics and devices;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Journal, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/JPHOT.2015.2409056
