Sub-kHz linewidth intracavity VECSEL-pumped OPO

Steven Anderson; Paulo Hisao Moriya; Lucia Caspani; Jennifer E. Hastie

doi:10.1063/5.0308873

Sub-kHz linewidth intracavity VECSEL-pumped OPO

Steven Anderson^*
, Paulo Hisao Moriya
, Lucia Caspani
, Jennifer E. Hastie

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute Of Photonics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We report low noise and narrow linewidth performance of an actively stabilized optical parametric oscillator, intracavity-pumped by a visible AlGaInP-based vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Under dual-locking conditions, where the VECSEL and intracavity resonant idler are stabilized using the Pound–Drever–Hall and side-of-fringe locking techniques, respectively, narrow linewidths of 6.21(1) kHz (VECSEL) and 151(1) Hz (idler) are achieved for integration times as long as 4 s, illustrating the transfer of noise from the VECSEL fundamental to the OPO non-resonant signal. In this regime, the relative intensity noise of all three interacting waves is <−120 dBc/Hz for all frequencies above 1 kHz, indicating that this coherent laser system is well-suited for quantum optics experiments, potentially those involving squeezed light generation.

Original language	English
Article number	026112
Number of pages	8
Journal	APL Photonics
Volume	11
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0308873
Publication status	Published - 19 Feb 2026

Funding

UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the National Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology (EP/M013294/1), the National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing and Timing (EP/T001046/1), EPSRC training grant (EP/R513167/1; studentship 2419856), New Investigator Award (EP/V062492/1), and ERC Consolidator Grant QuNIm (G.A. 101125923).

Keywords

optical parametic oscillator
VECSEL
narrow linewidth
intracavity nonlinear conversion
spontaneous parametric down-conversion
semiconductor disk laser
OPO

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10.1063/5.0308873Licence: CC BY 4.0

Anderson-etal-APLP-2026-Sub-kHz-linewidth-intracavity-VECSEL-pumped-OPOFinal published version, 5.77 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

3 Finished

UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing and Timing
Hunter, D. (Principal Investigator), Johnson, S. (Principal Investigator), McGilligan, J. P. (Principal Investigator), Riis, E. (Principal Investigator), Arnold, A. (Co-investigator), Griffin, P. (Co-investigator), Hastie, J. (Co-investigator), Ingleby, S. (Co-investigator), Moriya, P. (Research Co-investigator) & Moriya, P. (Research Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/12/19 → 30/11/24
Project: Research
UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology
Hastie, J. (Principal Investigator), Arnold, A. (Co-investigator), Griffin, P. (Co-investigator), Kemp, A. (Co-investigator) & Riis, E. (Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/12/14 → 30/11/19
Project: Research
Ultra-Precision Optical Engineering With Short-Wavelength Semiconductor Disk Laser Technology (Challenging Engineering)
Hastie, J. (Principal Investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/05/11 → 30/04/16
Project: Research

Data for: "Sub-kHz linewidth intracavity VECSEL-pumped OPO"
Anderson, S. (Creator), Moriya, P. (Contributor), Caspani, L. (Supervisor) & Hastie, J. (Supervisor), University of Strathclyde, 3 Feb 2026
DOI: 10.15129/0cfda93b-ff2e-4f3f-8dec-26045e9ddf75
Dataset

Agilent 86142A Optical Spectrum Analyser
Hastie, J.
Institute Of Photonics
Facility/equipment: Equipment
Coherent Verdi Laser
Hastie, J.
Institute Of Photonics
Facility/equipment: Equipment
MS064 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope
Hastie, J.
Institute Of Photonics
Facility/equipment: Equipment

2 Article
1 Conference contribution book

Single-frequency optical parametric oscillator intracavity-pumped by a visible VECSEL for low-noise down-conversion to 1.55 µm
Anderson, S., Moriya, P. H., Caspani, L. & Hastie, J. E., 29 Jan 2024, In: Optics Express. 32, 3, p. 4254-4266 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
6 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

118 Downloads (Pure)
Intra-cavity singly-resonant OPO pumped by a visible VECSEL for low-noise down-conversion to 1.55 µm
Anderson, S., Moriya, P. H., Caspani, L. & Hastie, J. E., 12 Oct 2023, Advanced Solid State Lasers 2023. Washington, DC: Optica Publishing Group, 2 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution book
Sub-kHz-linewidth VECSELs for cold atom experiments
Moriya, P. H., Singh, Y., Bongs, K. & Hastie, J. E., 25 May 2020, In: Optics Express. 28, 11, p. 15943-15953 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
31 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

104 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

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title = "Sub-kHz linewidth intracavity VECSEL-pumped OPO",

abstract = "We report low noise and narrow linewidth performance of an actively stabilized optical parametric oscillator, intracavity-pumped by a visible AlGaInP-based vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Under dual-locking conditions, where the VECSEL and intracavity resonant idler are stabilized using the Pound–Drever–Hall and side-of-fringe locking techniques, respectively, narrow linewidths of 6.21(1) kHz (VECSEL) and 151(1) Hz (idler) are achieved for integration times as long as 4 s, illustrating the transfer of noise from the VECSEL fundamental to the OPO non-resonant signal. In this regime, the relative intensity noise of all three interacting waves is <−120 dBc/Hz for all frequencies above 1 kHz, indicating that this coherent laser system is well-suited for quantum optics experiments, potentially those involving squeezed light generation.",

keywords = "optical parametic oscillator, VECSEL, narrow linewidth, intracavity nonlinear conversion, spontaneous parametric down-conversion, semiconductor disk laser, OPO",

author = "Steven Anderson and Moriya, \{Paulo Hisao\} and Lucia Caspani and Hastie, \{Jennifer E.\}",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1063/5.0308873",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

journal = "APL Photonics",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Sub-kHz linewidth intracavity VECSEL-pumped OPO

AU - Anderson, Steven

AU - Moriya, Paulo Hisao

AU - Caspani, Lucia

AU - Hastie, Jennifer E.

PY - 2026/2/19

Y1 - 2026/2/19

N2 - We report low noise and narrow linewidth performance of an actively stabilized optical parametric oscillator, intracavity-pumped by a visible AlGaInP-based vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Under dual-locking conditions, where the VECSEL and intracavity resonant idler are stabilized using the Pound–Drever–Hall and side-of-fringe locking techniques, respectively, narrow linewidths of 6.21(1) kHz (VECSEL) and 151(1) Hz (idler) are achieved for integration times as long as 4 s, illustrating the transfer of noise from the VECSEL fundamental to the OPO non-resonant signal. In this regime, the relative intensity noise of all three interacting waves is <−120 dBc/Hz for all frequencies above 1 kHz, indicating that this coherent laser system is well-suited for quantum optics experiments, potentially those involving squeezed light generation.

AB - We report low noise and narrow linewidth performance of an actively stabilized optical parametric oscillator, intracavity-pumped by a visible AlGaInP-based vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL). Under dual-locking conditions, where the VECSEL and intracavity resonant idler are stabilized using the Pound–Drever–Hall and side-of-fringe locking techniques, respectively, narrow linewidths of 6.21(1) kHz (VECSEL) and 151(1) Hz (idler) are achieved for integration times as long as 4 s, illustrating the transfer of noise from the VECSEL fundamental to the OPO non-resonant signal. In this regime, the relative intensity noise of all three interacting waves is <−120 dBc/Hz for all frequencies above 1 kHz, indicating that this coherent laser system is well-suited for quantum optics experiments, potentially those involving squeezed light generation.

KW - optical parametic oscillator

KW - VECSEL

KW - narrow linewidth

KW - intracavity nonlinear conversion

KW - spontaneous parametric down-conversion

KW - semiconductor disk laser

KW - OPO

U2 - 10.1063/5.0308873

DO - 10.1063/5.0308873

M3 - Article

SN - 2378-0967

VL - 11

JO - APL Photonics

JF - APL Photonics

IS - 2

M1 - 026112

ER -

Sub-kHz linewidth intracavity VECSEL-pumped OPO

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