A tunable continuous-wave (CW) intracavity pumped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) has been developed where a diode-pumped ring-cavity Nd:YAG laser is used as the pumping source. The idler tunable range from 2.3 μm to 3.9 μm with linewidth less than 15 MHz has been demonstrated. The slop efficiency of the idler output versus the diode pump power is ~ 5.6%. The idler output power at 3.4 μm reaches 370 mW when the diode output power is 21.5 W. The PPLN OPO will be applied to seed ZnGeP₂ OPO pumped by a Tm:Ho:YLF laser (λ=2.05 μm). The ZnGeP₂ OPO can be tuned between 3-10.5 μm. Combined PPLN OPO and ZnGeP₂ OPO, the tunable range covers the strong absorption lines of most atmospheric pollutants, and overlaps the mid-infrared atmospheric windows of 3.4-5 μm and 8-13 μm. The mid-infrared emission source is a potential lidar transmitter for remote sensing applications.

Date Published: 23 December 2003
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 5154, Lidar Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring IV, (23 December 2003); doi: 10.1117/12.509373

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5154:
Lidar Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring IV
Upendra N. Singh, Editor(s)