INTRACAVITY OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR - STUDY OF THE DYNAMICS IN PULSED REGIME

We have studied the dynamical properties of the optical parametric osc illator when it is inserted into the pump-laser cavity. The temporal e volutions of the population inversion and of the pump and signal intra cavity powers are modeled by a simple system of coupled equations. Num erical simulations show that the optical parametric oscillator can pro duce one or several pulses, depending on the signal cavity finesse and the pumping level of the laser medium. The main characteristics of th e pulses are deduced from an analytical study of the equations. The en ergy transfer efficiency from the laser medium to the signal pulses is predicted to be up to 80%. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America