title: Optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate driven by a diode-pumped Q-switched erbium fiber laser.
abstract: We describe what is to our knowledge the first nanosecond periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) driven by a fiber laser. The source was frequency doubled by a PPLN sample before pumping a second, 20-mm-long, PPLN crystal. The OPO threshold was <10muJ, with pump depletions of as much as 45% and a tunable signal range of 945-1450 nm (1690-4450-nm idler range). We demonstrated 130-nm signal tuning by varying the pump wavelength and doubling crystal's temperature. Also, we achieved 15-nm tuning with all crystals at a constant temperature. The results demonstrate the potential of the fiber laser:PPLN combination for practical, versatile, and tunable sources.
authors: P E
authors: PE
authors: Britton
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Taverner
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Puech
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Richardson
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Smith
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Ross
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Hanna