Type-II continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators: oscillation and frequency-tuning characteristics

Abstract
We detail the oscillation properties of cw type-II optical parametric oscillators (signal and idler modes with orthogonal polarizations). When the signal and idler frequencies are very close, they are shown to have characteristics that are quite different from the well-known type-I optical parametric oscillators. We determine in particular the cavity-length values for which the oscillation occurs and how the frequencies of the output fields vary when one changes this length, the crystal angle, or the temperature. Finally, we determine the influence of the mirror phase shifts on the oscillation characteristics of a linear-cavity OPO.