Abstract

Since backward parametric oscillations were proposed [1] in the parallel propagation configuration, such a fundamental nonlinear process has never been observed due to the lack of appropriate materials for achieving quasi-phasematching. Recently, following Ref. [2], quasi-phasematching were achieved based on GaAs/AlGaAs multilayers [3] or asymmetric quantum-well domain structures [4-6]. Here, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, we propose to use second-order optical nonlinearities of multilayers or asymmetric quantumwell domain structures in a vertical cavity to achieve tunable and efficient transversely-pumped counterpropagating optical parametric oscillations (TPCOPOs). Similar to Refs. [3-6], the quasi-phasematching can be achieved in these structures by spatially modulating the second-order susceptibility along the growth direction.

© 1995 Optical Society of America