title: Limits to the NEP of an intracavity LiNbO(3) upconverter.
abstract: Limits to low noise equivalent power (NEP) operation of a lithium niobate upconverter are investigated. Upconversion is achieved inside the optical cavity of an Ar-ion laser. Limits to NEP are imposed by limits to conversion efficiency and by noise present in the upconversion process. Conversion efficiency is limited y thermal effects in the lithium niobate. Thermally induced wedging, focusing, and aberrations are caused by the lithium niobate absorption at the 514.5-nm argon pump wavelength. The primary component of noise in the upconverter is due to upconversion of thermal radiation from the lithium niobate crystal. The lowest NEP, at lambda = 3.4,microm, achieved in this study was 8.9 x 10(-14) W/Hz(1/2).
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falk