Photoacoustic spectroscopy and trace gas analysis using a pulsed PPLN optical parametric oscillator

Summary form only given.Development of compact and yet sensitive devices for monitoring and analyzing trace gases has been of primary importance. Recently, we have developed an all-solid-state tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically-poled lithium niobate (LiNbO/sub 3/) as the nonlinear medium. The OPO cavity is configured with a grazing-incidence grating-mirror combination, which allows rapid scanning over a wide range in the infrared. In this OPO, we achieved a linewidth of 0.3 cm/sup -1/ and a power conversion efficiency of 46%. Over 50 mW are routinely available in the 3-/spl mu/m region.