Compact, high-pulse-energy, picosecond optical parametric oscillator

We report a high-energy optical parametric oscillator (OPO) synchronously pumped by a 7.19 MHz, Yb:fiber-amplified, picosecond, gain-switched laser diode. The 42-m-long ring cavity maintains a compact design through the use of an intracavity optical fiber. The periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO(3) OPO provides output pulse energies as high as 0.49 μJ at 1.5 μm (signal) and 0.19 μJ at 3.6 μm (idler). Tunability from 1.5 to 1.7 μm and from 2.9 to 3.6 μm is demonstrated, and typical M(2) values of 1.5 × 1.3 and 2.8 × 1.9 are measured for the signal and idler, respectively, at high power.