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Pulsed Mid-IR Optical Parametric Oscillators

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Solid-State Mid-Infrared Laser Sources

Part of the book series: Topics in Applied Physics ((TAP,volume 89))

Abstract

Optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are the laser sources of choice when one needs broad continuous tunability (one octave or more), high peak (> 1 kW) or average (> 1 W) power, and high (> 30%) conversion efficiency. OPOs use the nonlinear-optical frequency down-conversion mechanism to get a tunable output. This chapter reviews pulsed OPOs in the 2–20 μm region of the spectrum. It contains a description of the principle of OPO operation, reviews existing and emerging nonlinear optical materials suitable for OPO applications and describes different OPO schemes including cascaded OPOs, narrow-linewidth OPOs as well as traveling-wave devices.

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  1. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-4088, USA

    Konstantin Vodopyanov

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  1. Photonics Institute, Technical University of Vienna, Gusshausstr. 27/387, 1040, Vienna, Austria

    Irina T. Sorokina

  2. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-4088, USA

    Konstantin L. Vodopyanov

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Vodopyanov, K. (2003). Pulsed Mid-IR Optical Parametric Oscillators. In: Sorokina, I.T., Vodopyanov, K.L. (eds) Solid-State Mid-Infrared Laser Sources. Topics in Applied Physics, vol 89. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36491-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36491-9_4

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