Watson M A, O'Connor M V, Shepherd D P, Hanna D C
Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
Opt Lett. 2003 Oct 15;28(20):1957-9. doi: 10.1364/ol.28.001957.
Continuous mode-locked operation of a singly resonant, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) based on CdSe has produced idler output tuned over the range of 9.1-9.7 microm, the longest wavelength generated so far to our knowledge from a SPOPO. Average idler powers as high as approximately 70 mW are generated in the crystal. Tandem pumping with a diffraction-grating-tuned parametric oscillator in periodically poled lithium niobate provides a convenient and agile means of tuning the noncritically phase-matched CdSe device. The absence of any detrimental thermal effects in the CdSe crystal suggests that significant further power scaling should be possible, with idler tuning ranges extendable to cover 8-12 microm.
