Patent ID: 6101023
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An intracavity three-stage parametric oscillator/difference-frequency mixing structure for generation of three separate wavelengths and efficient pump to idler wave conversion comprising:(a) an optical pump source for providing a pump beam at a primary wavelength;(b) a singly resonant cavity having an input end and an output end;(c) a first optical medium disposed in said cavity for sustaining optical parametric oscillation and difference-frequency mixing from said pump beam, said first optical medium comprising:(i) a first region having a first grating period adapted to operate as an optical parametric oscillator; and(ii) a second region having a second grating period adapted to operate as a difference frequency mixer wherein said first and second regions are adapted to produce a first signal frequency, a first idler frequency and a first-difference frequency;(d) a second optical medium having a third grating period for sustaining optical parametric oscillation coaxially disposed in such cavity and positioned in series between said first optical medium and said output end of said cavity, wherein said second optical medium is adapted to produce a second signal frequency and a second idler frequency from undepleted pump frequency;(e) an input mirror positioned at the input end of said cavity, adapted to couple the pump beam into the resonant cavity through the first and second optical mediums and further adapted to be reflective of the first and second signal frequencies to resonate said first and second signal frequencies within the cavity; and(f) an output mirror positioned at the output end of said cavity, adapted to couple the first difference-frequency and the first and second idler frequencies external to the cavity, and further adapted to be reflective of a portion of the first and second signal frequencies to prevent overdriving and to resonate the remaining first and second signal frequencies within the cavity.