Classical and quantum properties of the subharmonic-pumped parametric oscillator

A model for nondegenerate optical parametric oscillation in a continuous-wave singly resonant frequency doubler is presented. General expressions for the stationary state properties, such as threshold and conversion efficiency are derived for arbitrary focusing and arbitrary second-harmonic generation as well as parametric generation wavevector mismatches Delta k, Delta K. For large Delta k, where the SHG efficiency decreases roughly as \Delta k\(-2), the oscillation threshold increases roughly linearly with \Delta k\. Substantial conversion efficiencies for the generation of signal and idler powers are predicted for cavities with good escape efficiency. Further salient features are optical limiting of the harmonic output at zero wavevector mismatches and parametric generation-induced second-harmonic generation when Delta kL = 2 pi N. The quantum properties of the system are a special case of the doubly-resonant frequency doubler discussed by Marte [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74 (1995) 4815]: the system is predicted to be a source of highly quantum correlated signal and idler waves (twin beams).