Optical parametric oscillator based on four-wave mixing in microstructure fiber

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, optical parametric oscillation based on four-wave mixing in microstructure fiber. The measured wavelength-tunability range of the device (40 nm) and the threshold-pump peak power (34.4 W) are in good agreement with the theory of four-wave mixing in optical fibers. The ellipticity of the fiber's polarization modes allows the device to be implemented in a relatively simple Fabry-Perot configuration. Spectral peaks that are due to cascaded-mixing processes are easily observed in our setup, which may provide a way to extend the tunability range of existing high-power lasers. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.