LED pumped optical parametric oscillators

我们的目标是实现一种基于发光二极管泵浦回音壁谐振腔的固体激光光源。固态激光活性材料是光学非线性的。因此，激光可以驱动光学参量振荡。这导致相干光的发射，其频率可以通过改变光源的温度在宽范围内调谐。这一概念极大地受益于回音壁谐振腔的优点：高品质因数使得激光作用以及参数振荡的泵浦阈值较低。因此，发光二极管足以驱动系统。由于回音壁谐振器是基于全内反射，不同光谱区域的光波可以同时振荡。此外，光源非常紧凑。共振器的直径为毫米。该项目结合了两个有前途的发展：发光二极管在过去几年中变得更加强大和高效。回音壁谐振器在制造和封装方面已经取得了实质性的进展，例如，在耦合光进出或模式控制中。我们相信，在激光作用与光学参量振荡耦合方面获得新的基本见解，并实现适用于痕量气体分析或量子通信的实用光源。此外，该光源将在可调谐性和形状因数方面设定新的标准。

We aim to realize a solid state laser light source based on a whispering gallery resonator pumped by a light emitting diode. The solid state laser active material is optically nonlinear. Thus, the laser light can drive an optical parametric oscillation. This leads to the emission of coherent light whose frequency can be tuned over a wide range by varying the temperature of the light source. This concept greatly benefits from the advantages of the whispering gallery resonator: The high quality factor enables low pump thresholds for the laser action as well as for the parametric oscillation. Thus, a light emitting diode is sufficient to drive the system. Since whispering gallery resonators are based on total internal reflection, light waves in different spectral regions can oscillate simultaneously. Furthermore, the light source is very compact. The resonators measure millimeters in diameter. This project combines two promising developments: Light emitting diodes have become more powerful and efficient over the last years. Whispering gallery resonators have made substantial progress with regard to fabrication and manageability, e.g., in coupling light in and out or mode control. We believe to get new basic insights in the coupling of laser action with optical parametric oscillation and to realize a practical light source that is suitable for trace gas analysis or quantum communication. Furthermore, the light source will set new standards with regard to tunability and form factor.