High-power, 62-fs infrared optical parametric oscillator synchronously pumped by a 76-MHz Ti:sapphire laser.

We demonstrate a producing KTiOPO4-based optical parametric oscillator with external-pulse compression, 62-fs pulses at 76 MHz and 175-mW average power (37-kW peak power). The oscillator is pumped synchronously with 800-mW, 110-fs pulses from a Kerr lens mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 laser operating at λ = 765 nm. The oscillator cavity length is actively stabilized, and the total amplitude noise is <1% (rms). With a single mirror set, the signal-beam wavelength is tunable between 1.20 and 1.34 μm. The idler beam tunes from 2.1 to 1.78 μm with an expected (uncompressed) pulse width of <400 fs and ~100-mW average power. Tuning throughout the bandwidth from 0.9 to 4.5 μm should be possible with additional mirror sets.