Slow dynamics and multipair self phase-locked oscillation in the divide-by-3 cw optical parametric oscillator

This study investigates the slow dynamics and multipair self phase-locked oscillation in the divide-by-3 continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator (OPO). This work also reports on a different regime of operation, when the SLOPO is slightly frequency detuned from exact by-3 division by changing the PPLN phase-matching temperature. When δ is equal or multiple of the cavity free spectral range Δν_s, cascade injection-locking of many resonant mode pairs (up to 5-6) has been observed by spectral analysis of the SPLOPO output, as a premise to a cw mode-locked OPO operation. Such a simultaneous multipair stable oscillation is precluded in a conventional OPO due to gain saturation. The maximum number of phase-locked pairs is limited by the pumping power. The potential of the device as a generator of multipartite quantum entangled pairs, as well as in 3-phase-encoded spiral wave transverse pattern formation are discussed.