Patent ID: 6167067
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An optical parametric oscillator having a nonlinear medium with integrally formed cavity mirrors, the optical parametric oscillator comprising:(a) an optical pump source providing a pump beam at a primary wavelength;(b) a monolithic nonlinear optical medium having a beam entry surface area and a beam exit surface area, the monolithic optical medium comprising first optical media having a first optical parametric oscillation process grating period and second optical media having a second frequency generation grating period, which are disposed in contiguous relation to each other wherein said second grating period has a value less than said first grating period resulting in the optical medium parametrically amplifying and sustaining difference frequency mixing producing at least two signals in the mid-IR range, said optical medium defining respective ones of the entry and exit surface areas;(c) a first reflective film applied to the entry surface area of the monolithic optical medium for coupling the pump beam through the monolithic nonlinear optical medium; and(d) a second reflective film applied to the exit surface area of said monolithic nonlinear optical medium adapted to couple output signals externally to the optical medium.