HIGH-AVERAGE-POWER KTIOASO4 OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR

Using noncritically phase-matched 1-cm(2)-aperture KTiOAsO4 (KTA) crys tals in an optical parametric oscillator (OPO), we have demonstrated a sustained average signal power of 33 W at 1534.7 nm. To Our knowledge , this is the highest-average-power signal ever generated by an OPO. T he pump source was a 100-Hz Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser. Compared with that of the similar and more-common material KTiOPO4, idler absor ption in KTA is negligible, allowing high-power operation with minimal thermally induced refractive distortion in the OPO crystal. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.