BROADLY TUNABLE KNBO3 OPOS PUMPED BY TI-SAPPHIRE LASERS

We present the first broadly tunable KNbO3 OPO in No-Tracking Configur ation (NTC), pumped by a flashlamp-pumped Ti:sapphire laser. Tuning th e pump laser from 733 to 841 nm yielded a tuning range from 908 nm to 1402 nm (for the signal), and 2103 to 3803 nm (for the idler). This ra nge was limited by the mirror coatings, and continuous tuning should b e achievable up to and beyond 4000 nm. Threshold was as low as 15 MW/c m(2) and efficiencies up to 10% have been observed without AR-coatings on the crystal. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.