Modeling of a diode pumped continuous wave optical parametric oscillator in a KTP waveguide

Lead Investigator: Kevin Repasky, Montana State University

   Diode pumped continuous wave (CW) optical parametric oscillators offer access to the near infrared (NIR) spectral region (1�m-5�m), which is important for atmospheric remote sensing.  A novel optical parametric oscillator is proposed that will provide a compact all solid state tunable laser source needed for CW light identification and ranging (LIDAR) systems in the NIR.  The proposed CW optical parametric oscillator is based on confinement of the parametric interaction in a waveguide structure that is written into a KTP substrate.  The proposed laser has two advantages over current CW optical parametric oscillators.  The first advantage is based on waveguide confinement in a KTP substrate increasing the power density of the pump, signal, and idler and has a corresponding increase in the parametric gain.  An estimate indicates that the threshold pump power will decrease by two orders of magnitude for the optical parametric oscillator built in a waveguide as opposed to one built in periodically poled lithium niobate with an external cavity.  This estimate indicates that pump powers as low as 2mW can be used to generate parametric conversion in a singly resonant waveguide optical parametric oscillator.  The second advantage with the waveguide structure is the ability to write Bragg gratings at each end of the waveguide to form the resonant cavity.  This allows for design and construction of a computer and stable solid state optical parametric oscillator.

Mail:	Kevin Repasky	E-mail:	repasky@physics.montana.edu
	Department of Physics	Phone:	(406) 994-6082
	Montana State University	FAX:	(406) 994-4452
	Bozeman, MT 59717

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