THE COMPOUND CAVITY OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR - THEORY AND EXPERIMENT

We present the time dynamics of a compound-cavity optical parametric o scillator (OPO) using a mathematical model for the modes under the gai n profile of the oscillator which accounts for pump depletion and the cavity-Q factors. The computational results show that this type of cav ity is superior in that its threshold is lower than that of a simple n arrow-band cavity with dispersive elements and its efficiency is incre ased, while its narrow linewidth remains nearly the same across the tu nable range of the nonlinear crystals used, A diagram illustrating the operation state of a compound-cavity OPO is presented, which is appli cable to the simple narrow-band cavity, simple broad-band cavity, comp ound cavity, and traveling-wave amplification. The theoretical results are compared to the experimental data from a compound-cavity OPO usin g a grazing-incidence prism and grating as dispersive elements.