Renaissance of Optical Parametric Oscillators and Amplifiers

Optical parametric oscillators (OPO) and amplifiers (OPA) are powerful solid state sources of broadly tunable coherent radiation capable of covering the entire spectral range from the near uv to the mid ir and can operate down to the femtosecond time domain with broad applications in research and industry. Although the principles of optical parametric processes have been well-known since the early days of quantum electronics, the development of practical optical parametric devices has been hampered by the lack of suitable nonlinear optical materials. As a result of recent advances in nonlinear optical materials research, there has been a resurgence of interest, and rapid progress, in the development and applications of optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers. The basic physics of the optical parametric process and recent results on the development and applications of practical optical parametric devices are reviewed in this talk.