Efficient optical image amplifier using periodically poled lithium niobate

摘要

An efficient optical image amplification scheme has been proposed and demonstrated using the quasi-phase-matched optical parametric amplifier. Pumped with the 152 mu J per pulse pump laser at 532 nm, the input weak infrared image at 1064 nm with 3.5 pJ energy is amplified with a 55 dB optical gain using only a 3 mm long MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) crystal. A spatial resolution of 17 lines/mm on the surface of the PPLN crystal is obtained. Further numerical simulation indicates that our scheme enables efficient image enhancement with a long pulsed pumping source, such as nanosecond lasers. (C) 2015 Optical Society of America