High-power narrow-band pulses with wavelengths tunable about 1.053 µm from a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator.

We have constructed an optical parametric oscillator to generate 75-ps near-transform-limited pulses with wavelengths tunable about 1.053 µm for use in pump-probe studies of self-focusing. The singly resonant oscillator uses a Brewster-cut LiB(3)O(5) crystal that is oriented for type-II phase matching and synchronously pumped by the amplified and frequency-tripled pulse trains from a mode-locked and Q-switched Nd:YLP laser. An intracavity Pockels cell is used to switch out single 0.5-MW pulses at rates of 1 to 10 Hz. The design, construction, and performance of the oscillator are discussed. Measured performance is compared with design predictions and with detailed numerical simulations.