Wavelength switching in the acceptance bandwidth of a dual injection seeded optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We describe the investigation of a dual laser injection seeding and switching of an optical parametric oscillator. This option is part of a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) transmitter system for measuring environmental species at two wavelengths. The realization is accomplished by using an injection seeded diode pumped Nd:YAG laser as pump for an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The suitable wavelengths were generated by injection seeding the OPO at the signal wavelength. Experiments with one and two external cavity diode lasers to generate the required two idler wavelengths for the measurement were performed. Injection seeding the OPO yields a line-narrowing of the spectral width of the pulsed OPO. Within the seeding and switching range at these two wavelengths mode competition and inter-mode mixing was observed.