HIGH-POWER NARROW-BAND PULSES WITH WAVELENGTHS TUNABLE ABOUT 1.053 MU-M FROM A SYNCHRONOUSLY PUMPED OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR

We have constructed an optical parametric oscillator to generate 75-ps near-transform-limited pulses with wavelengths tunable about 1.053 mu m for use in pump-probe studies of self-focusing. The singly resonant oscillator uses a Brewster-cut LiB3O5 crystal that is oriented for ty pe-II phase matching and synchronously pumped by the amplified and fre quency-tripled pulse trains from a mode-locked and Q-switched Nd:YLF l aser. An intracavity Pockels cell is used to switch out single 0.5-MW pulses at rates of 1 to 10 Hz. The design, construction, and performan ce of the oscillator are discussed. Measured performance is compared w ith design predictions and with detailed numerical simulations. (C) 19 96 Optical Society of America