Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R16600/01
Title:	Continuous-Wave Optical Parametric Oscillators: From Principles To Practice
Principal Investigator:	Dunn, Professor MH
Other Investigators:	Rae, Dr CF Ebrahimzadeh, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Physics and Astronomy
Organisation:	University of St Andrews
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 March 2001	Ends:	31 July 2003	Value (£):	205,991
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Lasers & Optics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Firstly, the programme aims to establish a fuller understanding of the underlying physical processes involved in the operation of various configurations of continuous-wave optical parametric oscillators (CW OPOs), guided throughout by relevance to the development of practical devices. Secondly, the programme aims to use such improved understanding to identify opportunities for developing state-of-the-art devices, and to take the initial steps towards their realisation by constructing, demonstrating and evaluating a number of such devices. In particular CW OPOs will be explored in the contexts of providing for the first time: (i) miniature and efficient sources of CW coherent radiation that is both single-frequency and widely-tunable, (ii) precise integer-ratio frequency division for prescribed wavelengths, and (iii) terahertz-wide optical frequency combs in low threshold/low pump-power configurations. Although optical parametric oscillators are now well established as pulsed sources of coherent radiation, continuous-wave devices have yet to reach their full potential. However a wide range of cavity configurations/geometries provide opportunities for exploration in relation to the above aims. A fuller understanding of the comparative benefits and drawbacks of these configurations will enable CW OPOs to continue to be developed towards providing master oscillators for the optical/infrared spectral regions that offer standards of performance similar to those now available from oscillators at lower frequencies.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.st-and.ac.uk