Wide wavelength tuning of an optical parametric oscillator through electro-optic shaping of the gain spectrum

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Abstract
We present a novel technique for tuning an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) through electro-optically induced shape variations of the parametric gain spectrum in quasi-phase-matched lithium niobate (LN). The diode-pumped, triply resonant continuous-wave OPO is based on a 58-mm-long LN crystal that consists of three equally long sections, the outer sections being periodically poled with a 50% duty cycle. The center section is single-domain material and serves as a tunable phase shifter through the electro-optic effect. By application of a voltage of up to 1230 V, the OPO signal and idler wavelengths are tuned over 102 nm from 1560 to 1660 nm, in good agreement with theory.