TUNABLE HIGH-POWER BaB₂O₄ OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR PUMPED AT 355nm

We report the operation of a β- BaB₂O₄ (BBO) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) broadly tunable in the visible and the near infrared. Quantum efficiency of 22.7% for the signal and 34.1% for the idler corresponding to the total energy conversion efficiency of 25.9% has been achieved. The maximum average output power and the maximum output energy reached 220m W and 22rnJ/pulse, respectively. By changing the matching angle of the OPO, the output wavelength was continuously scanned throughout 425-2144nm.