2.5-GHz repetition-rate singly resonant optical parametric oscillator synchronously pumped by a mode-locked diode oscillator amplifier system

We report on an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) that is synchronously p umped directly by a diode laser. This laser is an actively mode-locked mast er-oscillator power-amplifier system that produces 20-ps pulses at 927 nm w ith a repetition rate of 2.5 GHz and an average power of 0.9 W. The OPO, wh ich is a singly resonant device based on periodically poled lithium niobate , generates 7.8-ps pulses. The OPO threshold is 300 mW of average pump powe r, and the maximum average idler output power is 78 mW at a wavelength of 2 100 nm. By changing the crystal temperature we can wavelength tune the outp ut in the ranges 1530-1737 nm (signal) and 1986-2348 nm (idler). Rapid wave length tuning of the OPO over 46 nn (signal) and 74 nm (idler) is achieved through tuning the cavity length over 28 mu m by use of a piezoelectric tra nsducer. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.