Abstract

Optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is a well-known nonlinear technique to convert laser light at shorter wavelengths to the middle infrared region, where normal laser sources are scarce. In particular, continuous-wave (cw) laser-like beams with narrow bandwidth, good tunability and high spectral brightness needed for spectroscopic applications are usually created using an OPO. A singly resonant (SR) design, where a near infrared signal beam resonates, can be constructed with a relatively simple setup and is capable of producing a narrow-linewidth, tunable idler beam in the middle infrared. This kind of source is highly desirable for spectroscopic applications, such as optically exciting selected vibrations of small organic molecules to detect, measure, or manipulate them.

© 2011 Optical Society of America