Abstract

High-power passively $Q$-switched microchip lasers produce 157-$\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{J}$ pulses of 1-ns duration in a single-frequency, diffraction-limited output beam. The unfocused 1.064-$\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ output of these devices has been used to drive periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric amplifiers at wavelengths between 1.4 and 4.3 $\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$. With a peak conversion efficiency of nearly 100%, these devices generate 100-kW, subnanosecond pulses in the mid IR, with a beam quality that is better than two times diffraction limited.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

Microlaser-pumped periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric generator–optical parametric amplifier

K. W. Aniolek, R. L. Schmitt, T. J. Kulp, B. A. Richman, S. E. Bisson, and P. E. Powers
Opt. Lett. 25(8) 557-559 (2000)

Nanosecond periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric generator pumped at 532 nm by a single-frequency passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

U. Bäder, J.-P. Meyn, J. Bartschke, T. Weber, A. Borsutzky, R. Wallenstein, R. G. Batchko, M. M. Fejer, and R. L. Byer
Opt. Lett. 24(22) 1608-1610 (1999)

Periodically poled lithium niobate monolithic nanosecond optical parametric oscillators and generators

Mark J. Missey, Vince Dominic, Peter E. Powers, and Kenneth L. Schepler
Opt. Lett. 24(17) 1227-1229 (1999)

Periodically poled lithium niobate optical parametric amplifier seeded with the narrow-band filtered output of an optical parametric generator

P. E. Powers, K. W. Aniolek, T. J. Kulp, B. A. Richman, and S. E. Bisson
Opt. Lett. 23(24) 1886-1888 (1998)

Optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate driven by a diode-pumped Q-switched erbium fiber laser

P. E. Britton, D. Taverner, K. Puech, D. J. Richardson, P. G. R. Smith, G. W. Ross, and D. C. Hanna
Opt. Lett. 23(8) 582-584 (1998)