Abstract

Conversion of $Q$-switched $1.064‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ Nd:YAG laser pulses to the $2–2.2‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ region with 46% efficiency is demonstrated with a KTP-based type 2 phase-matched optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with two pairs of walk-off compensating crystals in a ring resonator. With 10 mJ of pump energy, we obtain 2.5 mJ at the $2.06‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ signal and 2.1 mJ at the $2.2‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ idler, with a beam quality of ${\mathrm{M}}^2\approx 1.4$. With a ${\mathrm{ZnGeP}}_2$-based OPO pumped by the signal from the KTP OPO we achieved 14% conversion efficiency from $1.064 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ to the $3–5‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ range.

© 2002 Optical Society of America

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