We have demonstrated a type I phase-matched KNbO₃ optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by the fundamental of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The wavelengths of the OPO's signal and idler radiation are tuned continuously in the spectral regions of 1.45–2.01 and 2.27–4.0 μm, respectively. With a 7.8-mm-long crystal the energy density at threshold is 65 MW cm⁻² for 9-ns-long laser pulses and a transmission of the outcoupling cavity mirror of 10%. At pump pulse energies of 82 mJ (two times above threshold) the OPO generates pulses of up to 6 mJ at the signal wave and 5.4 mJ at the idler wave. This output corresponds to a total conversion efficiency of 14%. The measured spectral width of the signal wave increases from 2.5 nm (at 1.56μm) to more than 30 nm (at 1.97 μm). Injection seeding with the idler radiation of a 355-nm-pumped narrow-band β-barium borate OPO reduced the spectral width of the KNbO₃ OPO output to a single longitudinal mode.

© 1995 Optical Society of America

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