Abstract

Conversion efficiency, frequency shift, and thermal dephasing in beta-barium borate (BBO) and lithium borate (LBO) crystals have been investigated with ultraviolet lasers. A singly resonant, injection-seeded, BBO optical parametric oscillator (OPO) at 455 nm generated up to 0.55 W output when pumped by a frequency-tripled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with 2.3 W average power at 355 nm. Effects of thermal loading on BBO and LBO crystals were measured interferometrically by using a xenon chloride excimer laser as a UV source at 308 nm. Refractive index variations caused by UV absorption were analyzed to determine average power scaling limitations. OPO frequency shifts due to crystal heating by pump absorption were observed in BBO with a 308 nm pump laser. These results will be presented along with current progress on tunable visible OPO devices.

© 1992 Optical Society of America