A Type-II phase-matched KNbO3 optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pump
ed at 1.064 mum is described. Calculations shown that the full tuning
range of 1.4 to 4.2 mum is attainable, that the peak nonlinear drive i
s achieved near the phi = 45-degrees plane, and that the walk-off angl
es for this interaction are a maximum of approximately 3-degrees. The
tuning curve in the phi = 45-degrees plane was experimentally verified
, and the OPO was operated at signal and idler wavelengths of 1.87 and
2.47 mum, respectively. The relative OPO thresholds measured here ind
icate that the effective nonlinear coefficient for the Type-II interac
tion is smaller than that of the corresponding Type-I interaction.