Turnkey OPO delivers compact, tunable mid-IR output

Quasi-phase-matching with periodically poled lithium niobate has allowed engineers at Aculight (Bothell, WA) to develop a robust, diode-pumped, computer-controlled optical parametric oscillator (OPO) for the wavelength range from 1.3 to 5 µm. Unlike previous OPOs, the Aculight system is transparent to the user--according to the company, no adjustments, service, or periodic maintenance is required. In fact, the unit itself is sealed. The operator tunes the operating wavelength of the system from a computer keyboard.

The 5 × 3.4 × 13.5-in. OPO is available tuned to single wavelength pairs across the tuning range; the power supply is somewhat larger, but the unit operates uncooled. Output powers range from 600 mW at 1.5 µm to 50 mW at 4.5 µm, for a pulse-repetition rate of 20 kHz and pulse duration of 10 ns.

Aculight is targeting the medical-laser market with this product, which will allow surgeons to perform tissue ablation and then photocoagulation with the same unit. Future plans call for extending the operating wavelength range from 0.5 to 12 µm.