Degenerate ultra-broadband opos for mid-infrared frequency comb generation
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- This thesis consolidates an extensive study of optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) optimized for generating extremely broad bandwidth output in the mid-infrared (mid-IR). Optical parametric oscillation is a well-known frequency conversion technique employing an optical element with significant second order nonlinear susceptibility, situated in an appropriate resonator, to convert a shorter wavelength pump laser to longer wavelength OPO outputs. However, our technique is distinct in its optimization for simultaneous oscillation over an extremely broad bandwidth. This is accomplished with a doubly-resonant design, operated at or near degeneracy in a low-dispersion resonator containing a bandwidth-optimized non-linear element and pumped by a mode-locked near-infrared fiber laser. Such an OPO is suitable for generating spectrally and spatially bright, broadband phase- and frequency-locked combs in the absorption-rich mid-IR 'molecular fingerprint' region. Our synchronously pumped system architecture is readily applied to systems operating at other center wavelengths and repetition rates. The comparative simplicity allows new instruments to be envisioned, and is expected to be of great practical interest. Several sync-pumped OPO systems were studied, the first of which are based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) and pumped by commercial ultrafast erbium fiber lasers at 1.55 µm. With an Er/PPLN OPO system we obtained a pump threshold of 9 mW, output power of 60 mW, and 20dB bandwidth extending from 2.5 to 3.8 µm. Through collaboration, we benefitted from custom orientation patterned gallium arsenide (OP-GaAs) and state-of-the-art femtosecond thulium fiber lasers at 2.0 µm. These components allow us to operate sync-pumped OPOs producing more than 35-mW of output power, 30dB bandwidths extending from 2.6 to 6.1 µm, and pump thresholds of less than 20mW. The broad mid-infrared spectral bands addressed by these sources, combined with the underlying comb structure, make them uniquely suitable for advanced spectroscopic techniques, including "dual-comb" FTIR spectrometry. We have demonstrated the utility and versatility of these OPO sources for sensitive intracavity spectroscopy, remote, and micro-scale spectral absorption measurements.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2013 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Leindecker, Nicholas Charles |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Electrical Engineering. |
| Primary advisor | Byer, R. L. (Robert L.), 1942- |
| Thesis advisor | Byer, R. L. (Robert L.), 1942- |
| Thesis advisor | Kasevich, Mark A |
| Thesis advisor | Nishimura, Dwight George |
| Thesis advisor | Solgaard, Olav |
| Thesis advisor | Vodopyanov, Konstantin L, 1953- |
| Advisor | Kasevich, Mark A |
| Advisor | Nishimura, Dwight George |
| Advisor | Solgaard, Olav |
| Advisor | Vodopyanov, Konstantin L, 1953- |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Nicholas Charles Leindecker. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Electrical Engineering. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2013. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2013 by Nicholas Charles Leindecker
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