Synchronously pumped sub-picosecond optical parametric oscillator

Claim 2

A synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator comprising: means for defining a cavity with an optical path therethrough; an LBO crystal disposed in said optical path in said cavity at a beam waist position thereof; a cw mode locked Ti:Sapphire pump source oriented to supply pump pulses to said LBO crystal; said cavity having a length selected to produce a synchronous pumping condition; means for controlling the temperature of said LBO crystal to within at least about 2° C.

Claim 3

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 1 wherein said crystal has a length of between about 2 mm and 15 mm.

Claim 4

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 1 wherein said crystal has a length of between about 4 mm and 6 mm.

Claim 5

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 1 wherein opposing faces of said crystal in said optical path are cut at Brewster's angle.

Claim 6

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 1 wherein said LBO crystal is 90° phase matched.

Claim 7

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 1 wherein said LBO crystal is cut such that ν=90° and is less than 15°.

Claim 8

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 1 further including servo means for adjusting the length of said cavity so as to maintain a synchronous pumping condition.

Claim 9

A synchronously pumped, temperature-tuned 90° phase matched LBO crystal optical parametric oscillator comprising: a cavity including an optical path therethrough, said cavity defined by an high reflector, an output coupler and first and second curved mirrors, a first leg of said cavity defined between said high reflector and said first curved mirror and having a first length, a second leg of said cavity defined between said and first and second curved mirrors and having a second length, and a third leg of said cavity defined between said second curved mirror and said output coupler and having a third length; an LBO crystal disposed in said optical path in said second leg of said cavity at a beam waist position thereof; a cw mode locked Ti:Sapphire pump source oriented to supply pump pulses to said LBO crystal; said first, second, and third lengths selected to produce a synchronous pumping condition; means for controlling the temperature of said LBO crystal to within at least about 2° C.

Claim 10

A synchronously pumped, temperature-tuned 90° phase matched LBO crystal optical parametric oscillator comprising: a cavity including an optical path therethrough, said cavity defined by an high reflector, an output coupler and first and second curved mirrors, a first leg of said cavity defined between said high reflector and said first curved mirror and having a first length, a second leg of said cavity defined between said and first and second curved mirrors and having a second length, and a third leg of said cavity defined between said second curved mirror and said output coupler and having a third length; an LBO crystal disposed in said optical path in said second leg of said cavity at a beam waist position thereof; a cw mode locked Ti:Sapphire pump source oriented to supply pump pulses to said LBO crystal; said first, second, and third lengths selected to produce a synchronous pumping condition; means for controlling the temperature of said LBO crystal to within at least about 2° C.

Claim 11

A synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator comprising: means for defining a cavity with an optical path therethrough; an LBO crystal disposed in said optical path in said cavity at a beam waist position thereof; a cw mode locked Nd doped, frequency doubled, pump source oriented to supply pump pulses to said LBO crystal, said pump pulses having a duration greater than 1 picosecond; said cavity having a length selected to produce a synchronous pumping condition; means for controlling the temperature of said LBO crystal to within at least about 2° C.; and dispersion compensation means, located outside of said cavity, for compensating a chirp on an output pulse from said optical parametric oscillator to obtain a pulsewidth of said output pulse of less than 1 picosecond.

Claim 12

A synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator comprising: means for defining a cavity with an optical path therethrough; an LBO crystal disposed in said optical path in said cavity at a beam waist position thereof; a cw mode locked Nd doped, frequency doubled, pump source oriented to supply pump pulses to said LBO crystal, said pump pulses having a duration greater than 1 picosecond; said cavity having a length selected to produce a synchronous pumping condition; means for controlling the temperature of said LBO crystal to within at least about 2° C.; and dispersion compensation means, located outside of said cavity, for compensating a chirp on an output pulse from said optical parametric oscillator to obtain a pulsewidth of said output pulse of less than 1 picosecond.

Claim 13

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 9 wherein said crystal has a length of between about 2 mm and 15 mm.

Claim 14

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 9 wherein opposing faces of said crystal in said optical path are cut at Brewster's angle.

Claim 15

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 9 further including dispersion compensation means, located inside of said cavity, for increasing the bandwidth of a chirped output pulse from said optical parametric oscillator.

Claim 16

The synchronously pumped, optical parametric oscillator of claim 9 further including servo means for adjusting the length of said cavity so as to maintain a synchronous pumping condition.