Classical and quantum properties of optical parametric oscillators

Abstract

We present a review of the Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO), describing its operation and the quantum correlation between the light beams generated by this oscillator. We show the construction of an OPO using a Potassium Titanyl Phosphate crystal (KTP), pumped by a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser, and discuss the stability of the system and related thermal effects . We have measured the quantum correlation of signal and idler beams in a transient regime, obtaining a noise correlation level 39 % below the shot noise level.