Single-frequency optical parametric oscillator intracavity-pumped by a visible VECSEL for low-noise down-conversion to 1.55 µm

Anderson, Steven and Moriya, Paulo Hisao and Caspani, Lucia and Hastie, Jennifer E. (2024) Single-frequency optical parametric oscillator intracavity-pumped by a visible VECSEL for low-noise down-conversion to 1.55 µm. Optics Express, 32 (3). pp. 4254-4266. ISSN 1094-4087 (https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.510807)

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Abstract

We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a visible AlGaInP-based vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Tunable emission over 1155–1300 nm in the signal and 1474–1718 nm in the idler are observed by temperature adjustment of a 40 mm-long 5%-MgO:PPLN crystal intracavity-pumped at 690 nm. When optimized for low oscillation threshold, and by implementing resonant idler output-coupling (TOC = 1.7%), extracted output powers of 26.2 mW (signal) and 5.6 mW (idler; one-way) are measured, corresponding to a total down-conversion efficiency and extraction efficiency of 70.2% and 43%, respectively. Further, a total down-conversion efficiency of 72.1% is achieved in the absence of idler output-coupling. Of particular interest for high-precision applications, including quantum optics experiments and squeezed light generation, high stability and single-frequency operation are also demonstrated. We measure RMS stabilities of 0.4%, 1.8% and 2.3% for the VECSEL fundamental, signal and idler, with (resolution-limited) frequency linewidths of 2.5 MHz (VECSEL) and 7.5 MHz (signal and idler).

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