What are the key nonlinear materials and phase-matching concepts used in OPOs?

Common nonlinear crystals include BBO, LBO, KTP, PPLN, and periodically poled KTP, chosen based on transparency range, effective nonlinear coefficient, damage threshold, and walk-off characteristics. Phase matching can be critical (angle-tuned birefringent), noncritical (temperature-tuned), or quasi-phase-matched (via periodic poling), and determines the accessible wavelength range, tuning behavior, acceptance bandwidth, and efficiency of the OPO.

What are the main types of OPO configurations and how do they differ?

OPOs are often categorized as singly resonant (SRO), doubly resonant (DRO), or triply resonant, depending on whether the cavity resonates the signal only, both signal and idler, or all three waves including the pump. They also differ by pump regime: nanosecond-pumped OPOs emphasize high pulse energies and broad tuning steps, while femtosecond or picosecond synchronously pumped OPOs provide ultrashort pulses with narrower instantaneous bandwidth and often require precise cavity length synchronization to a mode-locked pump.

Which technical specifications matter most when selecting an OPO for an R&D or OEM application?

Key parameters include tunable wavelength range (signal and idler), output power or pulse energy, repetition rate, linewidth, and beam quality (M²), as well as efficiency relative to the available pump power. You should also consider crystal material, damage threshold, cavity design (SRO vs DRO), tuning mechanism (angle, temperature, or poling period), and pump laser compatibility (wavelength, pulse duration, and temporal synchronization).

How should I compare OPOs in terms of spectral performance and stability?

For spectral performance, compare linewidth, mode structure (single-frequency vs multi-longitudinal-mode), spectral tuning resolution, and long-term wavelength reproducibility, especially if you are doing spectroscopy or nonlinear frequency conversion. For stability, evaluate output power drift over time, pointing stability, sensitivity to environmental changes (temperature, vibration), and whether the system includes active cavity length or wavelength stabilization and integrated pump-laser locking options.

What are typical lead times, customization options, and cost drivers for OPO systems?

Lead times for OPOs are typically 8–16 weeks, driven by nonlinear crystal procurement/processing, cavity alignment, and integration with specified pump lasers; highly customized systems can take longer. Major cost drivers include the nonlinear crystal type and aperture, tuning range, required output power, cavity complexity (e.g., SRO vs DRO, intracavity etalons), integration with user-specified pump sources, and options such as automated wavelength tuning, fiber coupling, or environmental sealing.

How can I find, compare, and request quotes for OPOs on FindLight without creating an account?

On FindLight, navigate to Lasers → Solid State Lasers → OPO to view all listed Optical Parametric Oscillators, then use filters such as tunable range, pump wavelength, average power, and pulse regime to narrow the results. You can open product detail pages to compare datasheets and specifications side by side, then use the built-in inquiry or “Request a Quote” form on each listing to contact suppliers directly; submission does not require user registration.

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OPO Solid State Laser Sources for R&D

1064nm/1570nm OPO Solid State Laser

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Sold by: Wuxi Lumispot Photoelectric Science & Technology Co., Ltd. Ships from: China

Specifications
Total Tuning Range:	1570 – 1064 nm
Core Tuning Range:	1570 – 1064 nm
Pulse Energy:	20 mJ
Repetition Rate:	20 Hz
Signal Polarization:	N/A

QLI - DPSS air-cooled tunable wavelength Q-switched laser - Q-TUNE

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Sold by: Quantum Light Instruments Inc. Ships from: Lithuania

Specifications
Total Tuning Range:	410 – 2300 nm
Core Tuning Range:	410 – 2300 nm
Pulse Energy:	1 mJ
Repetition Rate:	10 Hz
Signal Polarization:	Vertical

Did You Know?

The first optical parametric oscillator was demonstrated by Joseph Giordmaine and Bob Miller in 1965, five years after the invention of the laser, at Bell Labs. Wavelength tunability and the possibility to attain wavelengths in infrared, far-infrared and terahertz region are the attributes which make OPOs so fascinating. Optical parametric oscillators are used as coherent light sources for various scientific applications, such as generating squeezed light for research in the area of quantum physics and spectroscopy. OPOs can be singly-resonant and pumped with an actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.

Frequently Asked Questions

An Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) is a tunable coherent light source that converts a fixed-wavelength pump laser into two longer-wavelength beams, called signal and idler, via a second-order (χ²) nonlinear interaction in a crystal. Inside a resonant cavity, parametric gain compensates for cavity losses at the signal (and sometimes idler) wavelength, leading to oscillation while conserving energy and momentum: 1/λ_pump = 1/λ_signal + 1/λ_idler plus phase-matching conditions.

What is an OPO?

An OPO (optical parametric oscillator) is a tunable coherent light source based on nonlinear frequency conversion. An OPO typically consists of a nonlinear crystal inside a resonant cavity, pumped by a solid state laser. Through parametric down-conversion, the pump photon is split into lower-energy signal and idler photons, enabling wide wavelength tunability from the visible to the mid-infrared.

Typical OPO Specifications

On FindLight you will find OPO systems configured as light sources for spectroscopy, microscopy, and materials research. Key specifications include:

Wavelength range: signal often ~400–2500 nm, idler extending into the mid-IR depending on nonlinear crystal and pump.
Pump source: common choices are Nd:YAG (1064 nm) or other solid state lasers, Q-switched or mode-locked.
Output power / pulse energy: from µJ-level pulses for tunable spectroscopy to higher energies for nonlinear optics experiments.
Pulse duration and repetition rate: nanosecond, picosecond, or femtosecond OPO configurations; repetition rates from single shot to MHz.
Linewidth and stability: narrowband OPO designs for high-resolution spectroscopy versus broadband for ultrafast applications.
Beam quality and polarization: M², pointing stability, and polarization state relevant for precision experiments.

Use Cases for OPO Sources

An OPO is widely used where tunable coherent radiation is required. Typical applications include absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, pump–probe and time-resolved measurements, nonlinear microscopy, mid-IR chemical sensing, and wavelength-selective materials processing. Because a single OPO can cover a broad spectral range, it is often preferred over multiple fixed-wavelength lasers.

Buyer Guidance on FindLight

When selecting an OPO on FindLight, compare the available wavelength tuning range, output power or pulse energy at your target wavelengths, and compatibility with your existing pump laser. Evaluate pulse duration, repetition rate, and linewidth versus the temporal and spectral resolution your experiment requires. Check crystal material, phase-matching configuration, and cooling or environmental requirements if you work in demanding lab conditions.

Each OPO listed in this Light Sources domain includes detailed datasheets, making it straightforward to match specifications with your system design. You can request quotes or technical clarifications directly from manufacturers without registration, enabling rapid sourcing and technical evaluation of OPO solutions for your project.