title: Limitations of the tunability of dual-crystal optical parametric oscillators.
abstract: We demonstrate what is believed to be the first continuous-wave dual-crystal optical parametric oscillator (D-OPO) for generation of waves with a frequency difference of some terahertz. It is based on two magnesium-doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystals pumped with near-infrared light at 1030 nm. By changing the temperature difference of the crystals we achieve a difference-frequency tuning. This ranges from an initially unexpected lower threshold of 1.3 THz up to higher frequencies. The linewidth of the considered signal waves is smaller than 5 GHz. Smaller difference frequencies were not achievable. Our model, describing the dual-crystal parametric gain, explains the observed lower tuning limit by showing that the assumption of independent oscillation conditions in a D-OPO is not necessarily valid.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Bonn, Wegelerstrasse 8, Bonn, Germany. breunig@physik.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Breunig
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sowade
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buse
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D004867:Equipment Design; D008027:Light; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D009991:Oscillometry; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D009556:Niobium; C091692:lithium niobate; D008274:Magnesium