Quasi-phase-matched optical parametric oscillation with periodically poledstoichiometric LiTaO3

We have demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, periodic poling of a a-mm-thick, near-stoichiometric LiTaO3 substrate and its operation in a nanosecond optical parametric oscillator. Because the coercive field of s toichiometric LiTaO3 is similar to 2 kV/mm, which is approximately one tent h that of the conventional congruent field, periodic poling of thicker stoi chiometric substrates was successfully performed by means of an electric-fi eld poling process at room temperature. The performance of a parametric osc illator with a l-mm-thick sample was compared with that of the oscillator w ith the periodically poled congruent oscillator. The stoichiometric device exhibited better performance. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.