Unlocking quantum potential with widely tunable OPO lasers: from frequency conversion to atomic transitions in hard-to-reach infrared

Widely tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO) lasers have recently shown great potential in quantum applications. Their ability to generate low noise, Watt-level optical power and access arbitrary wavelengths in the near-IR and mid-IR makes them ideal for nonlinear frequency conversion of non-telecom photons from atomic or solid-state systems into telecom photons, enabling photonic interconnects in quantum computing, sensing, and communication. Additionally, OPOs have been used for inducing high-Rabi-frequency optical excitations, such as in Rydberg sensing, by providing low-noise, high-power coherent light at hard-to-reach wavelengths. This presentation highlights the design of two OPO systems by TOPTICA Photonics, focusing on their quantum applications, including photon frequency conversion and atomic transitions at exotic wavelengths in the near-IR and mid-IR.