Optimized thermal control of a dual-wavelength-resonant nonlinear cavity
Optical resonator-enhanced nonlinear interactions are of great importance for the efficient generation of continuous-wave second harmonic generation, optical parametric oscillation, frequency mixing, and the generation of squeezed light. In order to maximize these interactions within the intra-cavity nonlinear material, high intensities, optimal phase matching, and simultaneous resonance of all interacting fields are required. However, the dispersion of the optical resonator often prevents the co-resonance of multiple wavelengths. Here, we present a novel implementation using a monolithic bimetallic heat sink for controlling the resonator dispersion based on a shallow temperature gradient directly applied to a section of the nonlinear crystal. This method enables precise dispersion control and is designed to minimize mechanical and thermal stresses in the nonlinear crystal, thus providing an additional method for designing highly efficient and reliable resonator-enhanced nonlinear devices for demanding applications such as gravitational wave detection, quantum optics, and frequency conversion.