Patent ID: 6456424
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A pump resonant optical parametric oscillator comprising:a) a pump resonant cavity having a first path having a length selected to resonate radiation having a pump wavelength &lgr;p; b) a signal resonant cavity having a second path having a length selected to resonate radiation having a signal wavelength &lgr;s, wherein the signal resonant cavity has a total loss at the signal wavelength of &ggr;S; c) an input coupler coupled to the pump resonant cavity, the input coupler having a transmission TIC at the pump wavelength &lgr;p; d) a first output coupler coupled to the pump resonant cavity, the first output coupler having a transmission TP at the pump wavelength &lgr;p; e) a parametric amplifier disposed within at least one of the pump resonant cavity and the signal resonant cavity, the parametric amplifier having a gain G at the signal wavelength &lgr;s, wherein the gain G increases with increasing power at the pump wavelength &lgr;p; wherein TIC, TP, and G are chosen such that a resonated power at the pump wavelength &lgr;p is nearly clamped at a threshold level, whereby a noise suppression at the pump wavelength &lgr;p is greater than about 3 dB.