The non-degenerate optical parametric oscillator in the strong-coupling regime

Abstract

A fully quantum treatment of the non-degenerate optical parametric oscillator in the extreme quantum limit of small photon numbers and very high nonlinear coupling strength is presented. When the nonlinear coupling constant becomes comparable with the cavity decay rate, the sharp threshold that is usually encountered disappears, a situation reminiscent of microlasers. Furthermore the output light exhibits unusual statistical properties such as strong super-Poissonian behaviour of the pump mode for (very) large coupling constants.     

Grating-cavity continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators for high-resolution mid-infrared spectroscopy

The use of grating as a spectral filter provides a simple way of improving wavelength tuning and stability of continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (cw OPOs). In this paper, we discuss how to design and use such grating-cavity cw OPOs for high-resolution spectroscopy in the molecular fingerprint region at ～3μm. The first design presented in the paper is based on a metal-coated diffraction grating, which produces fast and broad wavelength tuning and high wavelength stability. The second design uses a bulk Bragg grating for high optical power and good spectral purity. We report a new Bragg-grating OPO and demonstrate its use in a Doppler-free absorption spectroscopy of CH4 at ～3.22μm. In addition, we describe a new balanced detection scheme, which can be used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of absorption measurements if the measurement noise is limited by the intensity noise of the mid-infrared OPO.     

Thermal effects limitations in mid-infrared continuous wave optical parametric oscillators

Continuous-wave (cw) optical parametric oscillation (OPO) is a stringent test for the assessment of optical quality of nonlinear mid-infrared materials, because of the low intracavity loss (1% per round-trip) required to balance the weak cw parametric gain. We observed for the first time parametric oscillation at 2.53 m (idler) and 1.265 m (signal) using chalcopyrite AgGaS₂ in a triply resonant configuration leading to a pump threshold of 90 mW at _p~845 nm. Strong thermal effects induced by the residual absorption of the crystal are reported and analyzed. In particular, long-term (>30 min) stable single mode-pair operation is observed owing to a passive thermal servo of the cavity optical path length. The effect of thermal lensing under cw operation is also analyzed. We compare the performance of the AgGaS₂-TRO with those of a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) OPO, subject to weaker thermal effects.     

Practical Bessel beam pumping of periodically poled optical parametric oscillators

Abstract

The pumping of periodically poled optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) by practically realizable Bessel beams is analysed. The effect of the deviation of practical Bessel beams from the ideal form is assessed, the influence of the particular structure of periodically poled materials is discussed, and the concept of phase-matching aperture is introduced. In a typical situation, the efficiency of a periodically poled lithium niobate OPO pumped by a practical Bessel beam has been measured; no efficiency advantage was found in comparison to the corresponding Gaussian beam pumped system or to that predicted by the standard Brosnan-Byer model.     

Femtosecond optical parametric oscillators based on periodically poled lithium niobate

Abstract

We describe two configurations of collinearly pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled lithium niobate and tunable in the infrared from 975 nm to 4.98 μm. Maximum output powers of 240 mW for the signal and 106 mW for the idler were recorded with 25 mW of average power measured at 4.88 μm. An overall conversion efficiency of 35% and slope efficiencies for the signal of 46% at a wavelength of 1.04 μm and 70% at 1.1 μm were measured. Interferometric autocorrelations of the signal and idler pulses at various wavelengths within the tuning range have been obtained and imply nearly transform-limited pulse durations of about 140fs for the signal and about 190fs for the idler.     

Complex spatio-temporal dynamics of optical parametric oscillators close to threshold

Abstract

Spatially extended degenerate cw optical parametric oscillators are predicted to display a rich variety of spatio-temporal dynamic behaviour in two transverse dimensions. Typical examples are the dynamical scaling of phase domains, randomly distributed cavity solitons, formation of spatial patterns and optical turbulence. In spite of recent encouraging experimental results, many of these features can be difficult to observe in real devices since they require input energies which are too large. Here we show that in the case of a higher finesse for the pump field than for the signal field, complex spatio-temporal phenomena move closer to the signal generation threshold thus making their experimental observation more feasible.     

High-power,high-repetition-rate picosecond optical parametric oscillators for the near-to mid-infrared

Abstract

We report high-repetition-rate, singly-resonant, picosecond optical parametric oscillators based on the nonlinear crystals LiB₃O₅ and KTiOAsO₄ which are synchronously pumped by a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser operating at 81 MHz. These devices allow tunable pulse generation from 1·116-3·160 μm to be achieved. The LiB₃O₅ system produces average nearinfrared output powers of 325 mW and is continuous tuning over the wavelength range 1·16-2·26 μm. For 1·8 ps input pump pulses, transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1-1·2 ps and idler pulses with durations of 2-2·2 ps have been generated over 1·2-2·2 μm, without requirement for dispersion compensation. The KTiOAsO₄ system produces average near-infrared output powers of 403 mW, with the signal tuning over 1·116-1·281 μm and idler tuning over 2·260-3·160 μm. Without dispersion compensation, signal (idler) pulses with durations between 1·01-1·03 (1·61-2·91) ps have been obtained for 1·2 ps input pump pulses.     

Investigation of multiconversion processes in periodically poled LiNbO3-based optical parametric oscillators

The multiconversion processes in optical parametric oscillators based on periodically poled LiNbO3 are investigated. Interpretations based on simultaneous quasi- and birefringent phase matching are presented. Three parametric and three harmonic generation processes in a multigrating periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal were observed. Two of the parametric processes and two of the harmonics were quasi-phase matched, and the other conversion processes were phase matched through birefringence in the crystal. The primary parametric process (omegap --> omegas + omegai) was obtained through first-order quasi-phase matching. The other quasi-phase-matched processes occurred within higher orders. The existence of even-order quasi-phase matching in the crystal is due to other than a 50% duty-cycle grating periods. The tuning range for each of the generated waves is obtained and compared with theoretical fittings.     

Gain in single and paired parametric oscillators

ABSTRACT

The new concept of Quantum Amplification by Superradiant Emission of Radiation for generating high-frequency coherent light has produced several open questions, and one of the most important is how to determine the gain in two coupled oscillators with a parametric amplifier. In this article, we analytically derive the equation for the gain expression and state sufficient conditions to obtain gain. We also draw connections to single oscillator topics, including the Mathieu equation and the Kronig–Penney model.     

Enhanced entanglement in a non-degenerate four-level atom with a parametric oscillator

We discuss the generation and evolution of a macroscopic entanglement light with a subthreshold non-degenerate parametric oscillator, coupled to a vacuum reservoir. The four-level atoms driven by two classical fields interact with the parametric oscillator. The master equation for the cavity modes of the scheme is derived and analyzed, the entanglement properties of the two-mode light generated by this scheme inside and outside the cavity is studied. We show that the light produced by this system is strongly entangled with time evolution inside and outside a cavity.     

Controlling hyperchaos in a system of degenerate optical parametric oscillators by means of resonant three-wave interaction

The states of hyperchaos appearing in degenerate optical parametric oscillators (DOPOs) can be controlled by means of a resonance created using three-wave interaction. For a given set of detuning parameters, the reduced rate of the fundamental mode damping, and the initial field amplitude, any desired periodic orbit in DOPOs can be obtained by appropriate adjustment of the control wave amplitude. The proposed approach is illustrated by the results of numerical calculations.     

Frequency shift in signal and idler gain peaks due to nonlinear refractive index in narrow-band optical parametric oscillators

The frequency chirp in the gain spectra for the signal and idler waves in nanosecond optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) due to the nonlinear refractive index of the gain medium at the pump wavelength is discussed. Computed results for a commonly used 355 nm pumped OPO with lithium borate and beta barium borate as a gain medium show that the frequency shift remains small compared with the gain bandwith, even for a narrow-band OPO pumped above threshold.     

Generating EPR-type entanglement of degenerate optomechanical parametric oscillators

Einstein–Podolski–Rosen (EPR) entanglement states are achievable by combining two single-mode position and momentum squeezed states at a 50:50 beam splitter (BS). To generate the EPR mechanical entanglement, we consider the system consisted of two parametric optomechanical resonators, where two mechanical oscillators are linearly coupled. The linear coupling forms the symmetric and antisymmetric combinations of two mechanical modes, parallel to a 50:50 BS mixing. In the weak optomechanical coupling regime and via applying the opposite phases of parametric interactions, the symmetric and antisymmetric mechanical modes can be position and momentum squeezed, respectively. Therefore, two original mechanical modes are EPR entangled. Moreover, the mechanical thermal noise can decrease the entanglement. But with the parametric interaction enhanced optomechanical cooling, the influence of thermal noise on entanglement can be significantly suppressed, and the mechanical entanglement can be generated under a relatively high temperature. We also discuss the critical thermal occupation where the entanglement disappears, which is proportional to the optomechanical cooperativity parameter.     

High-efficiency mid-infrared ZnGeP2 optical parametric oscillator in a multimode-pumped tandem optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate a high-efficiency ZnGeP(2) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by another KTP OPO in a multimode-pumped tandem OPO configuration. The maximum optical-to-optical and slope efficiencies were 32% and 42.5%, respectively. Our setup also provides tunable multiband radiation in the 2.03-2.32-mum range and the 2.9-6.2-mum range simultaneously.     

Comparison study of CsLiB6O10 and beta-BaB2O4 as nonlinear media for optical parametric oscillators

We compare the relative merits of the new nonlinear materials CsLiB6O10 and beta-BaB2O4 for use as gain media in a singly or doubly resonant pulsed optical parametric oscillator pumped by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with various parameters. Angle tuning or a wide range can be theoretically stimulated under type I and type II(1) critical phase matching for CsLiB6O10 crystal. The tunable range is 237-2775 nm; the range was extended to the ultraviolet wavelength by fifth-harmonic generation in CsLiB6O10. A comparison of the tunable ranges, resonant thresholds, and conversion efficiencies of CsLiB6O10 and beta-BaB2O4 is obtained by computer simulation. We verify that CsLiB6O10 is an excellent ultraviolet crystal.     

A parametric study of strength reduction factors for elasto-plastic oscillators

Strength reduction factors (SRFs) continue to play a key role in obtaining design forces from elastic design spectra (via response modification factors) in ductility-based earthquake-resistant design. Despite several years of sustained research efforts, it has not been conclusively shown how SRF for a given singledegree-of-freedom structural system depends on various source and site parameters. A parametric study is carried out here for the explicit dependence of SRF spectrum (describing variation of SRF with system period for a given ductility demand) on strong motion duration, earthquake magnitude, geological site conditions, and epicentral distance in case of (non-degrading) elasto-plastic oscillators. For this, scaled response spectra are considered for different combinations of earthquake magnitude, site conditions and epicentral distance, and SRF spectra are generated from 1274 accelerograms recorded in western USA after making those compatible with each of these spectra. It is shown that there is no clear and significant dependence of SRF spectrum on strong motion duration. Further, the parametric dependence on earthquake magnitude, site conditions, and epicentral distance broadly conforms to the trends reported by earlier investigations. In particular, this study confirms that the dependence of SRF spectra on earthquake magnitude should not be ignored. This paper has been contributed in honour of Professor R N Iyengar, Indian Institute of Science, on the occasion of his formal retirement.     

A parametric study on residual stresses and loads in drawing process with idle rolls

A comprehensive study of drawing process with flat idle rolls of round wires is presented through 3D mechanical finite element simulations. An elastic–plastic model is used for the wire material and contact behavior is simulated by a sliding–sticking friction model. The results of numerical simulations are compared with measurements on wires produced with a laboratory equipment. The comparison of drawing load and some geometrical characteristics of experimental samples with numerical model predictions allowed to establish a good correspondence of model with experimental findings, thus validating the numerical model. Residual stress of flat roll drawn wires, pressure distribution on the forming rolls and drawing load are studied. The effects of main process parameters such as initial workpiece diameter, forming rolls diameter and percentage of deformation are investigated. The results present a helpful insight into the process parameters effect in wire drawing with flat idle rolls thus furnishing the basic guidelines for process design and optimization.     

Theoretical analysis of a noncollinear phase-matched optical parametric amplifier seeded by an optical parametric generation

We have theoretically analyzed the characteristics of an optical parametric amplifier system seeded by an optical parametric generation. We investigated the influences of the energy, pulse duration, material dispersion, and the third-order nonlinear effect in beta-barium borate. The group-velocity mismatch (GVM) becomes the most important factor for the amplification of bandwidths. Even though tilting the wave front of the pump can decrease the GVM, it seems impossible to generate pulses smaller than 10-fs with 400-nm pumping. However, 10-fs pulses can be achieved with a 30-fs pump duration with pumping at 800 nm.