Optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) can downconvert the pump laser to longer wavelengths with octave separation via χ(2), which is widely used for laser wavelength extension including mid-infrared (MIR) generation. Such a process can be integrated in monolithic resonators, being compact and low in threshold. In this work, we show that the monolithic χ(2) mini-OPO can also be used for optical frequency comb generation around 2096 nm and enters the boundary of MIR range. A new geometry called an optical superlattice box resonator is developed for this realization with near-material-limited quality factor of 4.0×107. Only a continuous-wave near-infrared pump laser is required, with OPO threshold of 80 mW and output power up to 340 mW. Revival temporal profiles are measured at a detectable repetition frequency of 1.426 GHz, and narrow beat note linewidth of less than 10 Hz shows high comb coherence. These results are in good agreement with our simulation for a stable comb generation. Such an OPO-based comb source is useful for carbon dioxide sensing or the mine prospect applications and can be generalized to longer MIR wavelengths for general gas spectroscopy.

Due to the composition-dependent properties of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), alloying of existing dissimilar TMDs architecture is a novel and controllable route to tailor crystal structures with superior optical and optoelectronic properties. Here, we reported the hexagonal-phase WSe_1.4Te_0.6 alloy can enable great promise for enhanced saturable absorption response exceeding the parent component WSe₂ and WTe₂, with larger modulation depth and lower saturable intensity. These advantages allowed the 1064 nm passively Q-switched lasers based on WSe_1.4Te_0.6 to be more efficient, with pulse duration narrowed to 45%, and slope efficiency increased by 232%. Our findings highlighted the appropriate alloying of TMDs as an effective strategy for development of saturable absorbers.

We demonstrate a high-pulse-energy, short-pulse-width passively Q-switched (PQS) Nd:YAG/V3+:YAG laser at 1.3 μm, which is end-pumped by a pulsed laser diode. During the PQS regime, a maximum total output pulse energy of 3.3 mJ is obtained under an absorbed pump pulse energy of 21.9 mJ. Up to 400 μJ single-pulse energy is realized with the shortest pulse width of 6.16 ns and a pulse repetition frequency of 34.1 kHz, corresponding to a peak power of 64.9 kW. The high-energy laser pulse is operated in the dual wavelengths of 1319 and 1338 nm, which is a potential laser source for THz generation.

In this Letter, a gray-tracking-resistant—potassium titanyl phosphate (GTR-KTP) crystal is used for intracavity frequency doubling red laser generation for the first time. Under the 808 nm LD pump power of 180 W, as high as 12.5 W of red laser output is obtained with the optimum repetition rate of 7 kHz. Within the red laser power variation range between the maximum to 70%, a temperature tolerance is measured to be 35°C. The results prove that GTR-KTP should be a potential nonlinear crystal for red laser generation.