Abstract
Nanosecond-pulsed optical-parametric-oscillator (OPO) devices are versatile sources of tunable coherent radiation,1-3 but their utility for spectroscopic applications tends to be hindered by a trade-off between spectral bandwidth and complexity. The optical bandwidth of a simple free-running OPO (containing no spectral-narrowing elements) is typically tens of reciprocal centimeters,−1, which is unsuitable for many spectroscopic applications. Narrow-band OPO operation, approaching the transform limit, relies on more elaborate (and therefore expensive) techniques, such as injection seeding and intracavity gratings and étalons.1-3 We describe a simple procedure that permits the effective optical bandwidth of a free-running (broadband) OPO to be reduced by at least a factor of five relative to that normally expected .This outcome is then applied spectroscopically through degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) measurements of atomic sodium.
© 1995 Optical Society of America
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