Author
Gary D. Boyd
Other affiliations: Alcatel-Lucent
Bio: Gary D. Boyd is an academic researcher from Bell Labs. The author has contributed to research in topics: Liquid crystal & Second-harmonic generation. The author has an hindex of 42, co-authored 97 publications receiving 9895 citations. Previous affiliations of Gary D. Boyd include Alcatel-Lucent.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical study on the optimization of second harmonic generation (SHG) and parametric generation (PG) by a laser beam in a uniaxial nonlinear crystal is presented.
Abstract: A theoretical study is presented on the optimization of second harmonic generation (SHG) and parametric generation (PG) by a laser beam in a uniaxial nonlinear crystal. Numerically computed curves show the dependence of the SHG power, and the reciprocal of the PG threshold power, on the parameter l/b, where l is the optical path length in the crystal and b is the confocal parameter (determined by the focal length of the focusing lens and the minimum radius of the laser beam, assumed to be in the TEM00 mode of an optical resonator). The calculations take full account of diffraction and double refraction. In the absence of double refraction, the optimum focusing condition is found to be l/b=2.84. For PG the optimization of the crystal length l is also discussed, and curves are given showing the dependence of the threshold on l for the case in which signal and idler have the same losses. It is shown that the computed functions are also relevant to the mixing of two Gaussian beams and to parametric amplificat...
1,700 citations
942 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a concave spherical resonator with two identical spherical reflectors, separated by any distance up to twice their common radius of curvature, is considered, and the diffraction losses are generally considerably lower for the curved surfaces than for the plane surfaces.
Abstract: Multimode resonators of high quality factor will very likely play a significant role in the development of devices, such as the maser, which operate in the millimeter through optical wavelength range. It has been suggested that a plane-parallel Fabry-Perot interferometer could act as a suitable resonator. In this paper a resonator consisting of two identical concave spherical reflectors, separated by any distance up to twice their common radius of curvature, is considered. Mode patterns and diffraction losses for the low-loss modes of such a resonator are obtained analytically, using an approximate method which was suggested by W. D. Lewis. The results show that the diffraction losses are generally considerably lower for the curved surfaces than for the plane surfaces. Diffraction losses and mode volume are a minimum when the reflector spacing equals the common radius of curvature of the reflectors. For this case the resonator may be termed confocal. A further property of the concave spherical resonator is that the optical alignment is not extremely critical.
767 citations
TL;DR: A new low-loss fast intracavity semiconductor Fabry-Perot saturable absorber operated at anti-resonance both to start and sustain stable mode locking of a cw-pumped Nd:YLF laser is introduced.
Abstract: We introduce a new low-loss fast intracavity semiconductor Fabry-Perot saturable absorber operated at anti-resonance both to start and sustain stable mode locking of a cw-pumped Nd:YLF laser. We achieved a 3.3-ps pulse duration at a 220-MHz repetition rate. The average output power was 700 mW with 2 W of cw pump power from a Ti:sapphire laser. At pump powers of less than 1.6 W the laser self-Q switches and produces 4-ps pulses within a 1.4-micros Q-switched pulse at an approximately 150-kHz repetition rate determined by the relaxation oscillation of the Nd:YLF laser. Both modes of operation are stable. In terms of coupled-cavity mode locking, the intra-cavity antiresonant Fabry-Perot saturable absorber corresponds to monolithic resonant passive mode locking.
674 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the refractive indices of ZnGeP2, point group 42m, have been determined from 0.64 to 12 μ and the nonlinear optical coefficient d14 for second harmonic generation (SHG) measured relative to d14 of GaAs is 0.83 ± 15%.
Abstract: The refractive indices of ZnGeP2, point group 42m, have been determined from 0.64 to 12 μ. ZnGeP2 has positive birefringence with reasonable temperature tunability and a band gap in the visible. Its nonlinear optical coefficient d14 for second harmonic generation (SHG) measured relative to d14 of GaAs is 0.83 ± 15%. The birefringence of ZnGeP2 is not large enough to allow phase‐matched SHG, but nondegenerate phase‐matched three‐frequency mixing is possible and the parametric oscillator threshold power is calculated for several situations. A redetermination of the coefficient d31 in CdSe is made and the materials compared. It is concluded that ZnGeP2 may be a most promising material for parametric generation in the 0.8– to 12‐μ region.
574 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, an experimental technique using powders is described which permits the rapid classification of materials according to the magnitude of nonlinear optical coefficients relative to a crystalline quartz standard and the existence or absence of phase matching direction(s) for second-harmonic generation.
Abstract: An experimental technique using powders is described which permits the rapid classification of materials according to(a) magnitude of nonlinear optical coefficients relative to a crystalline quartz standard and(b) existence or absence of phase matching direction(s) for second‐harmonic generation.Results are presented for a large number of inorganic and organic substances including single‐crystal data on phase‐matched second‐harmonic generation in HIO3, KNbO3, PbTiO3, LiClO4·3H2O, and CO(NH2)2. Iodic acid (HIO3) has a nonlinear coefficient d14∼1.5×d31 LiNbO3. Since it is readily grown from water solution and does not exhibit optical damage effects, this material should be useful for nonlinear device applications.
5,070 citations
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TL;DR: In this method, non-linear susceptibility tensors are introduced which relate the induced dipole moment to a power series expansion in field strengths and the various experimental observations are described and interpreted in terms of this formalism.
Abstract: Recent advances in the field of nonlinear optical phenomena are reviewed with particular empphasis placed on such topics as parametric oscillation self-focusing and trapping of laser beams, and stimulated Raman, Rayleigh, and Brillouin scattering. The optical frequency radiation is treated classically in terms of the amplitudes and phases of the electromagnetic fields. The interactions of light waves in a mterial are then formulated in terms of Maxwell's equations and the electric dipole approximation. In this method, non-linear susceptibility tensors are introdueed which relate the induced dipole moment to a power series expansion in field strengths. The tensor nature and the frequency dependence of the nonlinearity coefficients are considered. The various experimental, observations are described and interpreted in terms of this formalism.
3,893 citations
TL;DR: This paper is a review of the theory-of laser beams and resonators and emphasis is placed on formulations and derivations which lead to basic understanding and on results which bear practical significance.
Abstract: This paper is a review of the theory-of laser beams and resonators. It is meant to be tutorial in nature and useful in scope. No attempt is made to be exhaustive in the treatment. Rather, emphasis is placed on formulations and derivations which lead to basic understanding and on results which bear practical significance.
2,638 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the landmarks of the 30-odd-year evolution of ultrashort-pulse laser physics and technology culminating in the generation of intense few-cycle light pulses and discuss the impact of these pulses on high-field physics.
Abstract: The rise time of intense radiation determines the maximum field strength atoms can be exposed to before their polarizability dramatically drops due to the detachment of an outer electron. Recent progress in ultrafast optics has allowed the generation of ultraintense light pulses comprising merely a few field oscillation cycles. The arising intensity gradient allows electrons to survive in their bound atomic state up to external field strengths many times higher than the binding Coulomb field and gives rise to ionization rates comparable to the light frequency, resulting in a significant extension of the frontiers of nonlinear optics and (nonrelativistic) high-field physics. Implications include the generation of coherent harmonic radiation up to kiloelectronvolt photon energies and control of the atomic dipole moment on a subfemtosecond $(1{\mathrm{f}\mathrm{s}=10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}\mathrm{}\mathrm{s})$ time scale. This review presents the landmarks of the 30-odd-year evolution of ultrashort-pulse laser physics and technology culminating in the generation of intense few-cycle light pulses and discusses the impact of these pulses on high-field physics. Particular emphasis is placed on high-order harmonic emission and single subfemtosecond extreme ultraviolet/x-ray pulse generation. These as well as other strong-field processes are governed directly by the electric-field evolution, and hence their full control requires access to the (absolute) phase of the light carrier. We shall discuss routes to its determination and control, which will, for the first time, allow access to the electromagnetic fields in light waves and control of high-field interactions with never-before-achieved precision.
2,547 citations
TL;DR: The theory of quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation in both the space domain and the wave vector mismatch domain is presented in this paper, where various types of errors in the periodicity of these structures are analyzed to find their effects on the conversion efficiency and on the shape of the tuning curve.
Abstract: The theory of quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation is presented in both the space domain and the wave vector mismatch domain. Departures from ideal quasi-phase matching in periodicity, wavelength, angle of propagation, and temperature are examined to determine the tuning properties and acceptance bandwidths for second-harmonic generation in periodic structures. Numerical examples are tabulated for periodically poled lithium niobate. Various types of errors in the periodicity of these structures are then analyzed to find their effects on the conversion efficiency and on the shape of the tuning curve. This analysis is useful for establishing fabrication tolerances for practical quasi-phase-matched devices. A method of designing structures having desired phase-matching tuning curve shapes is also described. The method makes use of varying domain lengths to establish a varying effective nonlinear coefficient along the interaction length. >
2,137 citations