PPLN calculator

Our PPLN calculator can help you choose the best PPLN crystal for your application.

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Contact

For all initial enquiries please contact our team at:

Covesion Ltd
Unit A7, Premier Centre
Premier Way, Romsey
Hampshire SO51 9DG
United Kingdom

Email: sales@covesion.com
Tel. +44 (0)1794 521638
Fax. +44 (0)8709 289714

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Publications

Abstracts from our recent meetings and publications are listed below.
Please visit the host Journal's website to download the full paper or contact us for more details about upcoming conference talks or appearances.

A list of publications featuring Covesion PPLN is also available. Download full list of publications.

We are always interested to learn about your results and keep up-to-date with the current applications and capabilities of MgO:PPLN. If you would like to be included in our publications list or would like to discuss your research with us, please contact us.

Journal Publications

"Green-pumped, picosecond MgO:PPLN optical parametric oscillator"
Florian Kienle, Dejiao Lin, Shaif-ul Alam, David J. Richardson, David P. Shepherd (University of Southampton) and Hazel S. S. Hung, Corin B. E. Gawith, Huw E. Major (Covesion Ltd)
Abstract: We investigate the performance of a magnesium-oxide-doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystal (MgO:PPLN) in an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) synchronously pumped by 530 nm, 20 ps, 230 MHz pulses with an average power of up to 2 W from a frequency-doubled, gain-switched LD seed and a multistage Yb:fiber amplifier system. The OPO produces ∼165 mW (signal, 845 nm) and ∼107 mW (idler, 1421 nm) of average power for ∼1 W of pump power and can be tuned from ∼800 to 900 nm (signal) and 1.28 to 1.54 μm (idler). Observations of photorefraction and green-induced infrared absorption in different operational regimes of the MgO:PPLN OPO are described and the role of peak intensity and average power are investigated, both with the aim to find the optimal operating regime for pulsed systems.
JOSA B, Vol. 29, Issue 1, pp. 144-152 (2012)

"Compact, high-pulse-energy, picosecond optical parametric oscillator"
Florian Kienle, Peh Siong Teh, Shaif-Ul Alam, David C. Hanna, David J. Richardson, and David P. Shepherd (University of Southampton), Corin B. E. Gawith (Covesion Ltd)
Abstract: We report a high-energy optical parametric oscillator (OPO) synchronously pumped by a 7.19MHz, Yb:fiber-amplified, picosecond, gain-switched laser diode. The 42-m-long ring cavity maintains a compact design through the use of an intracavity optical fiber. The periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO3 OPO provides output pulse energies as high as 0.49μJ at 1.5μm (signal) and 0.19μJ at 3.6μm (idler). Tunability from 1.5 to 1.7μm and from 2.9 to 3.6μm is demonstrated, and typical M2 values of 1.5×1.3 and 2.8×1.9 are measured for the signal and idler, respectively, at high power.
Optics Letters Vol.35(21) p.3580-3582 (2010)

"52% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency in a compact 1.5W 532nm second harmonic generation laser with intracavity periodically-poled MgO:LiNbO3"
Mi Zhou, Boxia Yan, Yan Qi, Yong Bi (Chinese Academy of Science), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd), Guang Bao, Y.Zhang, Dongdong Wang (Phoebus Vision Opto-Electronics Technology Ltd.)
Abstract: Intracavity second-harmonic generation of 1.56 and 1.52W continuous-wave 532nm green laser radiation was obtained by quasi-phase matching in periodically-poled MgO:LiNbO3 (MgO:PPLN) crystals with lengths of 2 and 1mm, respectively. The maximum optical-to-optical efficiency achieved was 52%. The intracavity temperature bandwidth was 15 and 12C for 1mm crystal and 2mm crystal, respectively.
Laser Physics Vol.20(7) p.1568-1571 (2010)

"High-power, variable repetition rate, picosecond optical parametric oscillator pumped by an amplified gain-switched diode"
Florian Kienle, Kang Cheng, Shaif-ul Alam, Jacob Mackenzie, David Hanna, David Richardson, and David Shepherd (University of Southampton), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd)
Abstract: We demonstrate a picosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) that is synchronously pumped by a fiber-amplified gain-switched laser diode. At 24W of pump power, up to 7.3W at 1.54µm and 3.1W at 3.4µm is obtained in separate output beams. The periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO3 OPO operates with ~17ps pulses at a fundamental repetition rate of 114.8MHz but can be switched to higher repetition rates up to ~1GHz. Tunabilty between 1.4µm and 1.7µm (signal) and 2.9µm and 4.4µm (idler) is demonstrated by translating the nonlinear crystal to access different poling-period gratings and typical M2 values of 1.1 by 1.2 (signal) and 1.6 by 3.2 (idler) are measured at high power for the singly resonant oscillator.
Optics Express Vol.18(8) p.7602-7610 (2010)

"Compact 1.3W green laser by intracavity frequency doubling of a multi-edge-emitter laser bar using a MgO:PPLN crystal"
Kang Li, Aiyun Yao, and Nigel Copner (University of Glamorgan), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd), Ian Knight and Hans-Ulrich Pfeiffer (Oclaro Inc.), Bob Musk (Gooch & Housego)
Abstract: A compact green laser of 1.3W output at 534.7nm is generated by intracavity frequency doubling (ICFD) of a 49 edge-emitter laser bar using a MgO-doped (PPLN) bulk crystal. The measured M2 values of green beam are 12.1 and 2.9 along the slow and fast axes, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the ICFD of multi-edge-emitters laser bar.
Optics Letters Vol.34(22) p.3472-3474 (2009)

"Blue light generated by intra-cavity frequency doubling of an edge-emitting diode laser with a periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal"
Kang Li, Aiyun Yao, and Nigel Copner (University of Glamorgan), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd), Ian Knight and Hans-Ulrich Pfeiffer (Oclaro Inc.), Bob Musk (Gooch & Housego)
Abstract: We demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge intra-cavity frequency doubling (ICFD) of an edge-emitter diode laser using a 10mm-long 5.0μm periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) crystal. An optical output power of 33mW second harmonic blue light at 490.5nm is generated at 1.0A injection current, equivalent to an overall wall-plug efficiency of 1.8%. The measured M2 values of blue beam are 1.7 and 2.4 along the fast and slow axis.
Optics Express Vol.17(24) p.22073-22080 (2009)

Conference Talks

"Compact intracavity frequency doubled diode laser at 465nm"
Kang Li and Nigel Copner (University of Glamorgan), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd), Ian Knight and Hans-Ulrich Pfeiffer (Oclaro Inc.), Bob Musk (Gooch & Housego)
Abstract: Intra-cavity frequency doubling (ICFD) of an extended cavity 49-emitter edge-emitting laser bar has been demonstrated in a quasi-phase matching MgO:PPLN bulk crystal. A maximum of 1W of second-harmonic light at 465nm is generated at an operating injection current of 45A with the optimal phase-matching MgO:PPLN temperature of 77C. To increase the efficiency further, careful design of the lens used on the fast and slow axis beam waists and use of lower-temperature MgO:PPLN planar-waveguide array can be considered.
Photonics West 2011, Poster Session: 7912-72 (25th January 2011)

"A picosecond Optical Parametric Oscillator synchronously pumped by an amplified gain-switched laser diode"
Florian Kienle, Kang Cheng, Shaif-ul Alam, Jacob Mackenzie, David Hanna, David Richardson, and David Shepherd (University of Southampton), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd)
Abstract: We demonstrate a picosecond optical parametric oscillator synchronously pumped by a fiber-amplified gain-switched laser diode. Up to 7.3W at 1.54µm and 3.1W at 3.4µm is obtained at pulse repetition rates between 114.8 and 918.4MHz.
CLEO/QELS 2010, CThZ-Parametric Generation: CThZ7 (20th May 2010)

"532nm laser sources based on intracavity frequency doubling of multi-edge-emitting diode lasers"
Kang Li and Nigel Copner (University of Glamorgan), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd), Ian Knight (Oclaro Inc.)
Abstract: 532nm green light source of 1.2W output is generated by intra-cavity frequency doubling (ICFD) of a multi-edge-emitter laser bar using a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) bulk crystal. The measured M2 values of green beam are 11.9 and 2.6 along the x- and y-axes respectively. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the ICFD of a multi-edge-emitter laser bar.
Photonics West 2010, OPS Lasers II: 7578-37 (26th January 2010)

"Intra-cavity frequency doubling of an electrically pumped edge-emitting 980nm laser diode with PPLN"
Kang Li, Aiyun Yao and Nigel Copner (University of Glamorgan), Corin Gawith (Covesion Ltd), Ian Knight (Oclaro Inc.)
Abstract: A novel intra-cavity frequency doubling of an electrically pumped edge-emitting laser diode was demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. The experimental data agree well with the numerical results based on our model.
CLEO Europe 2009, CA.P.5 TUE (15th June 2009)

PPLN short courses

"Quasi-Phasematching for Wavelength Conversion and All-Optical Nonlinear Processing"
Peter Smith (Covesion Ltd, University of Southampton)
Abstract: This course provides an overview and grounding in the use of quasi-phase matched materials in nonlinear optics. Quasi-phase matching (QPM) is emerging as a dominant technology for nonlinear optical frequency conversion in the visible and near-IR. By offering a large nonlinear susceptibility, non-critical phase matching and a tailored spectral response, it is allowing a wide range of new optical devices to be realized. The course will start by explaining the underlying concepts of QPM and reviewing the available materials, their advantages and disadvantages. Both bulk and waveguide QPM devices will be covered. The course will make use of worked examples of real devices that will be presented to explain their operation. These examples will draw on experiments in harmonic generation, fiber-pumped OPOs, and telecomm wavelength conversion in waveguide PPLN. The commercial and scientific uses of QPM devices will be reviewed. Finally, the market potential of QPM devices will be discussed. The markets and opportunities in telecommunications, infra-red countermeasures, scientific, and displays will be considered.
CLEO/QELS 2010, SC153 (17th May 2010)