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Annual Meeting Optical Society of America

Optical frequency division using a parametric oscillator

N. C. Wong, Dicky Lee

Published Jan 1, 1992• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Frequency division in the optical regime is a desirable capability for precision measurement applications. We have recently demonstrated a new approach to tunable frequency division based on an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). By phase locking the signal–idler beat frequency to a microwave frequency source, an input pump frequency is halved. This beat frequency measurement precisely determines the signal and idler frequencies. The method is an efficient one-step process, and OPO dividers can be operated in series or in parallel to measure, compare, and synthesize frequencies from optical to microwave. Our initial results from a cw tunable KTP OPO divider indicate good frequency control and tuning capability, with a signal-idler beat-note linewidth at the hertz level. We will discuss the prospects for an OPO-based optical frequency counter that can accurately measure any optical frequency relative to a microwave frequency standard.

DOI
10.1364/oam.1992.tuww1

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Quantum Electronics•May 31, 2009•1 citation
Frequency division in the optical regime is a desirable capability for precision measurement applications. We have recently demonstrated a new approach to tunable frequency division based on an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). By phase locking the signal–idler beat frequency to a microwave frequency source, an input pump frequency is halved. This beat frequency measurement precisely determines the signal and idler frequencies. The method is an efficient one-step process, and OPO dividers can be operated in series or in parallel to measure, compare, and synthesize frequencies from optical to microwave. Our initial results from a cw tunable KTP OPO divider indicate good frequency control and tuning capability, with a signal-idler beat-note linewidth at the hertz level. We will discuss the prospects for an OPO-based optical frequency counter that can accurately measure any optical frequency relative to a microwave frequency standard.
We realize and investigate wavelength-flexible phase-coherent all-optical frequency division by 2. Frequency division is obtained via self-phase-locking in a degenerate continuous-wave (cw) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The wavelength flexibility of the divider is based on the use of quasi-phase-matching with perpendicular polarizations of the OPO output waves (type II). Mutual injection of the subharmonic waves is achieved by using an intracavity quarter-wave plate. A locking range of up to 160MHz160\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}160MHz is observed experimentally, and a stable, self-phase-locked operation of the OPO is achieved over typically 15min15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{min}15min. For the first time, we measure the frequency stability of the divider by recording the relative phases of the subharmonic waves as a function of time. For a measurement time interval of 40s40\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}40s, we measure a residual frequency instability of the divider of $8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$. We demonstrate a full control of the OPO's output-wave phase difference and observe the related change in power ratio of the subharmonic waves in agreement with the theoretically expected behavior. We propose that this possibility to monitor the divider's drift within the locking range via the power ratio can be used for stabilizing that drift in order to achieve a significant improvement of the long-term stability of the divide-by-2 OPO.
A single-frequency optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating in the wavelength range around 2 µm is reported. The OPO comprises a periodically poled LiNbO 3 (PPLN) crystal for quasi-phase matching and a four-mirror ring-cavity resonant to the signal. The OPO signal and idler are tuned from 1.89 to 2.05 µm and from 2.21 to 2.42 µm, respectively, by changing the crystal temperature. Output powers in excess of 2 W are demonstrated at a pump power of 9 W for both the signal and idler over all of the respective tuning ranges. A detailed characterization of the intensity and frequency noise is presented. The OPO exhibits an integrated intensity noise below 0.1% and a linewidth of ∼58 kHz for an observation time of 1 ms. The reported performance makes this source an ideal candidate for the generation of squeezed light around 2 µm via cascaded second-harmonic generation (SHG) and parametric downconversion (PDC).
We have constructed a mode-locked optical parametric oscillator (OPO), synchronously pumped by the second harmonic of a continuously mode-locked Nd:YAG laser and based on type II phase matching in a KTP crystal. The two subharmonics (signal and idler waves) are nearly degenerate in frequency but are distinct orthogonal polarization states, and the oscillator is thus a nondegenerate OPO. Above threshold, the intensities of the signal and idler output beams should be highly correlated, as recently demonstrated for a similar single-frequency OPO.1 Ideally, the quantum noise on the corresponding photocurrent difference signal is completely suppressed for frequencies that are small compared to the OPO cavity bandwidth. Since this configuration produces intense light beams with potentially very good noise suppression, it is an important prototype for possible applications, e.g., to spectroscopy. Initial results with our OPO show an excess uncorrelated polarization noise, possibly due to depolarized light scattering in the KTP crystal. When the OPO cavity is stabilized with the signal and idler degenerate in frequency, they can be mixed to form a superposition by manipulating their polarization. When the oscillator is pumped below threshold, a pulsed squeezed vacuum state is produced in two such mixtures.2 When the polarizations are mixed inside the OPO cavity by a Faraday rotator, the backaction evasion necessary for a quantum nondemolition (QND) measurement of one of the field quadratures of an externally injected beam is obtained.3 The pulsed local oscillator used in observing the squeezing or QND effects is derived from the fundamental output of the pump laser. Progress in implementing these experiments with our mode-locked OPO is described as well as possible applications to time-domain measurements with noise below the shot-noise limit.
We present a review of the Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO), describing its operation and the quantum correlation between the light beams generated by this oscillator. We show the construction of an OPO using a Potassium Titanyl Phosphate crystal (KTP), pumped by a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser, and discuss the stability of the system and related thermal effects. We have measured the quantum correlation of signal and idler beams in a transient regime, obtaining a noise correlation level 39 % below the shot noise level.
A cw optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operated above threshold is of particular interest in current squeezing experiments. Quadrature squeezing in the signal and idler modes and in the pump mode is predicted. Intensity squeezing in the difference intensity of the signal and idler is predicted and has recently been observed.1 We have built a doubly resonant cw OPO with a magnesium oxide- doped lithium niobate crystal that is single-pass-pumped with the 530.9-nm line of a kryptonion laser. Mode hopping instability near degeneracy puts stringent requirements on the frequency stability of the pump laser and the mechanical stability of the OPO cavity. We have oberved such instability near degeneracy and determined the stability requirements for this OPO. Stable operation can be obtained as the OPO is operated away from degeneracy but at a higher threshold. Classically the single-pass pump output is predicted to be clamped at the threshold value so that the OPO in this configuration acts as a pump power limiter. Quantum mechanically, we have found that the pump intensity noise is enhanced. Measurements on the pump intensity noise spectrum in this particular configuration have been made and compared to our theoretical predictions.