Optical Parametric Oscillation with Ultra-Low Power Threshold in a Dimer of Active-Passive Cavities

• Main Authors: Bo Lu, Chen-Rui Fan, Jun-Yang Song, Chuan Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Crystals
• Subjects: optical parametric oscillation; optical dimer; threshold
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/5/566

Optical parametric oscillation can convert the input laser into a couple of coherent optical output with signal and idler frequencies. It is an important method for the realization of the broadband middle infrared tunable lasers. The optical parametric oscillation process depends on the ultra-fast non-linear response of matter to light with a certain pump power. Therefore, reducing the pump threshold of the optical parametric oscillation process and improving the energy conversion efficiency are of great significance to the study of non-linear optics. In this paper, we construct a dimer system that couples a passive non-linear resonator to an active resonator. Based on the dimer system, an ultra-low threshold optical parametric oscillation generation method is proposed. By coupling the gain pump mode, the non-linear effect is effectively enhanced, the pump power threshold is reduced to half of when there is no gain, and the energy conversion efficiency is increased. We believe this research provides a feasible method for a low-threshold tunable and easy-to-integrate optical parametric oscillation laser source.