Optical parametric amplifier (OPA)

What is an OPA?

An optical parametric amplifier (OPA) is a device that amplifies laser light. It is a nonlinear optical device that creates new photon pairs from a single input beam of light. An OPA consists of a nonlinear crystal that is pumped with a high-intensity laser. When the crystal is pumped, it generates two new beams of light. One beam is called the signal beam, which is similar to the input beam, and the other beam is called the idler beam, which has a different frequency than the input beam.

OPAs are used in various fields, including biophysics, quantum optics, and laser spectroscopy. They can be used to generate ultrafast light pulses, which can be used to study chemical reactions, biological processes, and material properties. OPAs are also used in telecommunications to amplify optical signals and to convert signals from one wavelength to another.

How an OPA works?

An OPA works by using a nonlinear optical crystal. When a high-intensity laser beam is directed into the crystal, it causes the crystal to become nonlinear. This means that the crystal no longer obeys the laws of classical optics and starts generating new beams of light. The new beams of light are generated at a different frequency than the input beam. The frequency of the new beams of light can be adjusted by changing the properties of the crystal or the pump laser.

The output of an OPA consists of two beams of light: the signal beam and the idler beam. The frequency of the signal beam is similar to the frequency of the input beam, while the frequency of the idler beam is different. The intensity of the output beams can be adjusted by changing the properties of the crystal or the pump laser.

Applications of OPA

There are many applications of OPA technology. One of the most common applications is in biophysics, where it is used to study biological molecules and their interactions. OPAs can be used to generate ultrafast light pulses, which can be used to study how molecules react to light. They can also be used to measure the structure and dynamics of biological molecules.

OPAs are also used in quantum optics, where they are used to generate entangled photon pairs. Entangled photons are two photons that are linked, so that the state of one photon determines the state of the other photon. Entangled photons are used in quantum cryptography and quantum computing.

Example of OPA technology

One example of OPA technology is the Optical Parametric Amplifier from Coherent. This OPA is designed to be used with Coherent’s ultrafast lasers, and it can be used to generate ultrafast light pulses with a broad range of wavelengths. The OPA is based on a non-collinear optical parametric amplification (NOPA) scheme, which allows for the generation of ultrafast light pulses with high peak power and low pulse distortion. The OPA can be used in a variety of applications, including spectroscopy, microscopy, and material science.