Temperature Tunable Infrared Optical Parametric Oscillator with Periodically Poled LiNbO₃

We demonstrate a temperature tunable infrared optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled LiNbO₃ (PPLN) pumped by an acousto-optically Q-switched cw-diode-end-pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser with the signal output from 1.48μm to 1.54μm by tuning the work temperature from 60°C to 250°C and the maximum average signal power (1500 nm) of 137 mW. We report the demonstration of the sum frequency of the pump and idler in a single-grating PPLN crystal. In addition, we present the theoretical analysis of the signal wavelength change rate with the changing temperature for a quasi-phase matching OPO, which is in good agreement with our experimental results.