6/44 OPOs concepts, technology and Applications I

This course provides a review of optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), from basic operation principles to advanced architectures. The course will begin with a description of the fundamental concepts in nonlinear optics and frequency conversion, followed by a discussion of OPO devices and an overview of the current status of OPO technology and their applications. The discussion will mainly cover OPO systems operating in continuous-wave (CW), picosecond and ultrafast femtosecond time-scales. Specifically, the students gain knowledge of the basic principles of parametric generation and amplification; OPO design issues, nonlinear material and pump laser selection criteria, birefringent and quasi-phase-matching, OPO resonance configurations, OPO operating regimes; CW OPOs, including high-power singly-resonant oscillators, threshold conditions and tuning behavior, frequency control, CW OPOs for the visible, fiber-pumped CW OPOs; picosecond OPOs, including high-repetition-rate cw and pulsed synchronously-pumped OPOs, fiber-laser-pumped OPOs, quasi-phase-matched devices; femtosecond OPOs, including Ti:sapphire-pumped OPOs, spectral and temporal control, femtosecond OPOs for the visible, UV and infrared; commercial development of OPO technology; and novel applications of OPOs in science and technology.