High-peak-power sub-nanosecond intracavity KTiOPO4 optical parametric oscillator pumped by a dual-loss modulated laser with acousto-optic modulator and single-walled carbon nanotube

A high-peak-power low-repetition-rate sub-nanosecond intracavity KTiOPO4 (KTP) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a doubly Q-switched and mode-locked (QML) YVO4/Nd:YVO4 laser with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and a single-walled carbon nanotube saturable absorber (SWCNT-SA) has been demonstrated. A maximum output power of 373 mW at a signal wavelength of 1570 nm was obtained. The smallest pulse width, highest pulse energy, and greatest peak power of mode-locking pulses were estimated to be 119 ps, 124 µJ, and 1.04 MW, respectively, under a maximum incident pump power of 8.3 W and an AOM repetition rate of 2 kHz. This OPO operation paves a simple way to produce eye-safe laser sources at 1570 nm with low repetition rates, small pulse widths, and high peak powers.