Abstract

We report the external frequency-doubling of a high- repetition-rate, picosecond optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) based on LiB₃O₅. This SPOPO which is synchronously pumped by 1.1 ps pump pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 81 MHz, generated transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1-1.2 ps and idler pulses with durations of 2-2.2 ps over the continuous wavelength range of 1.16-2.26 µm at average powers of 580 mW. By external frequency doubling output signal pulses from this system in noncritically phase-matched, temperature-tuned LiB₃O₅, we have produced transform-limited picosecond pulses in the visible range from 584 to 771 nm at average powers of up to 68 mW. Second harmonic pulses with durations between 840 and 880 fs have been obtained for signal durations of 1-1.2 ps.

© 1996 Optical Society of America