An all solid-state narrow bandwidth optical parametric oscillator and its applications to the high resolution spectroscopy of free radicals

• Published in: Journal of modern optics 2002-04, Vol.49 (5-6), p.865-876
• Main Authors: CHEKHLOV, O. V., FITZPATRICK, J. A. J., ROSSER, K. N., WESTERN, C. M., ASHWORTH, S. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Nonlinear optics; Optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers; Optics; Physics
• ISSN: 0950-0340; 1362-3044
• DOI: 10.1080/09500340110109430

The paper describes the design, performance and illustrative spectroscopic applications of a high power, pulsed, injection seeded, narrow bandwidth and continuously tuneable optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on two β-barium borate (BBO) nonlinear crystals. A ring cavity OPO was injection seeded with an external cavity diode laser in the spectral range 755-855 nm. The OPO generated high power transform limited nanosecond light pulses in this range and, simultaneously, at 606-667 nm. Spectral parameters of the OPO were investigated as a function of pump power for two different cavity lengths. A bandwidth of ∼120 MHz (0.004 cm -1 ) in the visible has been achieved with a 40-cm-long cavity. The potential of the OPO system is demonstrated by recording high resolution sub-Doppler spectra in the UV of PF and C 3 radicals in a pulsed supersonic jet expansion.