FEMTOSECOND OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATORS SYNCHRONOUSLY PUMPED BY Yb:KGW OSCILLATOR

Three synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillators (SPOPO's) based on different nonlinear optical materials are used to show the viability of Yb:KGW lasers for generation of pump radiation. Periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) is a convenient nonlinear optical material to begin the investigation, and typical of PPLN interesting additional phenomena are observed. Optical parametric amplification proves to be a useful technique for establishing SPOPO operation in lithium triborate (LBO) and beta barium borate (BBO) with a lower gain than PPLN. Numerical modelling helps in the analysis of SPOPO performance and indicates possible directions for future development such as non-collinear propagation to mitigate group velocity differences. The compact construction and efficient operation of femtosecond Yb:KGW lasers provide a favourable source of pump radiation for SPOPO's in these preliminary investigations.