Broadly tunable LiB3O5 optical parametric oscillator

We report, what is to our knowledge, the first XeCl excimer pumped optical parametric oscillator using critical phase matched LiB3O5 (LBO), to generate broadly tunable coherent radiation with high optical to optical efficiency. Tuning ranges of 355–497 nm in the ultraviolet/blue spectral region, and 809–2.34 μm in the near-infrared have been obtained, with pump depletions as high as 28%. Oscillation thresholds, external efficiencies, effects of intracavity losses, effects of pump beam size and inherent linewidths (∼0.3 nm) are also reported.