Abstract

The self-pulsing behavior observed in the optical parametric oscillator [1] cannot be described by the usual model involving only parametric interactions [2], In order to understand the origin of these instabilities, we have analysed the experimental data obtained from a nearly degenerate triply resonant OPO, pumped by a frequency-doubled YAG laser. The waveforms provide a clear signature of the influence of a slow variable on the dynamics. This can be the temperature, as is the case in our experiment, but other slow phenomena such as photocondution could a priori lead to similar behaviors.

© 2000 IEEE