NARROW-BAND BETA-BAB2O4 OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR IN A GRAZING-INCIDENCE CONFIGURATION

The key operating parameters of a grazing-incidence optical parametric oscillator (GIOPO) based on beta-BaB2O4 pumped by the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser are studied. The bandwidth of the GIOPO is investiga ted as a function of both the pump-laser bandwidth and the incident an gle on the diffraction grating. The efficiency of the device is invest igated by measurement of both the depletion of the pump laser and the output of the GIOPO. The results indicate a strong dependence of the b andwidth of the GIOPO on the bandwidth of the pump laser. A qualitativ e evaluation is given to explain this dependence. (C) 1995 Optical Soc iety of America