The conventional technique for matching and stabilizing the cavity length of
seeded Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers is to minimize the pulse build-up time in a lock-in
scheme. A disadvantage of this technique is that in order to obtain a robust feedback
signal the opening speed of the Q-switch needs to be reduced, which causes timing
issues, loss of power, and lengthening the generated pulse. Here an alternative method is
presented which mediates these problems. A feedback signal is obtained using
microwave frequency range detection of the beating between the longitudinal cavity
modes. This novel technique can be implemented with only a minimal modification of
the cavity optics and electronics of conventional free-running Nd:YAG lasers.
A new series of fluorophosphate glass is developed which can be doped with an extremely high concentration of Nd3+. The dependence of the optical absorption and emission properties on dopant concentration is reported here for the concentration range 2.5×1020 to 1.25×1021 ions/cm3. Absorption and emission measurements are performed in order to evaluate the spontaneous emission probability, absorption cross-section, emission cross-section, and laser performance parameters. We have synthesized two glass systems: MBBA/NdI with an Nd3+ concentration of 2.50×1020 cm3 and MBBA/NdII with an Nd3+ concentration 6.26×1020 cm3. The stimulated emission cross sections are 1.14 and 1.64×104 cm2 for the 4F3/2→4I13/2 transition and 3.68 and 6.68×104 cm2 for the 4F3/2→4I13/2 transition in MBBA/NdI and MBBA/NdII, respectively. Similarly, the extraction efficiencies are measured to be 1.91, 2.31 (4FI3/2→4I13/2) and 6.18, 9.41 (4F3/2→4I11/2) in MBBA/NdI and the MBBA/NdII, respectively. This new (Mg, Ba)F2-based fluorophosphate glass (MBBA system) is promising for broadband compact optical fiber and waveguide amplifier applications.
The construction of a double, synchronously pumped OPO is described. It generates pulses with duration 25 ps and repetition rate of 10 Hz. The bandwidth of the radiation is 1.36 cm-1, close to the Fourier limit. A single pulse from each oscillator is further amplified with an OPA obtaining pulse energies up to 3.7 mJ. This source can be tuned between 410 nm and 2000 nm.
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