CONTINUOUS-WAVE, DUAL-CAVITY, DOUBLY RESONANT, OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR

We have demonstrated a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator t hat uses separate optical cavities to resonate independently the nonde generate signal and idler frequencies. The three-mirror cavity utilize s the type II phase-matching geometry in lithium triborate, with the o rthogonally polarized signal and idler fields separated by an intracav ity, dichroic-coated, Brewster-angled beam splitter. This dual-cavity oscillator can overcome mode and cluster hopping effects, which are ch aracteristic of doubly resonant, continuous-wave optical parametric os cillators. We measure a pump power threshold of almost-equal-to 200 mW and smooth tuning over almost-equal-to 0.4 GHz. The tuning range is l imited by pump resonance effects within the idler cavity.