Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Solid State Laser Technologies

Description

This cluster of papers represents advances in solid-state laser technology, including topics such as ytterbium-doped materials, infrared sources, Raman lasers, crystal growth, diode pumping, femtosecond amplifiers, laser materials, mid-IR lasers, and frequency conversion.

Keywords

Solid-State Lasers; Ytterbium; Infrared Sources; Raman Lasers; Crystal Growth; Diode Pumping; Femtosecond Amplifiers; Laser Materials; Mid-IR Lasers; Frequency Conversion

Thermo-optic materials properties of laser host materials have been measured to enable solid-state laser performance modeling. The thermo-optic properties include thermal diffusivity (β), specific heat at constant pressure (Cp), thermal … Thermo-optic materials properties of laser host materials have been measured to enable solid-state laser performance modeling. The thermo-optic properties include thermal diffusivity (β), specific heat at constant pressure (Cp), thermal conductivity (κ), coefficient of thermal expansion (α), thermal coefficient of the optical path length (γ) equal to (dO∕dT)∕L, and thermal coefficient of refractive index (dn∕dT) at 1064nm; O denotes the optical path length, which is equal to the product of the refractive index (n) and sample length (L). Thermal diffusivity and specific heat were measured using laser-flash method. Thermal conductivity was deduced using measured values of β, Cp, and the density (ρ). Thermal expansion was measured using a Michelson laser interferometer. Thermal coefficient of the optical path length was measured at 1064nm, using interference between light reflected from the front and rear facets of the sample. Thermal coefficient of the refractive index was determined, using the measured values of γ, α, and n. β and κ of Y3Al5O12, YAIO3, and LiYF4 were found to decrease, as expected, upon doping with Yb.
We have developed an efficient room-temperature ytterbium-doped YAG laser operating at 1.03 μm pumped by an InGaAs strained-layer diode laser operating at 968 nm. The threshold was 234 mW, and … We have developed an efficient room-temperature ytterbium-doped YAG laser operating at 1.03 μm pumped by an InGaAs strained-layer diode laser operating at 968 nm. The threshold was 234 mW, and 23 mW of output power was obtained for an absorbed pump power of 345 mW. This laser offers a number of advantages over AlGaAs-pumped Nd:YAG lasers, such as broader absorption features, longer fluorescent lifetime, and lower thermal loading of the gain medium.
We demonstrate a compact diode-pumped Yb:KGW femtosecond oscillator-Yb:YAG Innoslab amplifier master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) with nearly transform-limited 636fs pulses at 620W average output power, 20MHz repetition rate, and beam … We demonstrate a compact diode-pumped Yb:KGW femtosecond oscillator-Yb:YAG Innoslab amplifier master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) with nearly transform-limited 636fs pulses at 620W average output power, 20MHz repetition rate, and beam quality of Mx 2=1.43 and My 2=1.35. By cascading two amplifiers, we attain an average output power of 1.1kW, a peak power of 80MW, and a 615fs pulse width in a single linearly polarized beam. The power-scalable MOPA is operated at room temperature, and no chirped-pulse amplification technique is used.
OMEGA is a 60-terawatt, 60-beam, frequency-tripled Nd:glass laser system designed to perform precision direct-drive inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) experiments. The upgrade to the system, completed in April 1995, met or surpassed all … OMEGA is a 60-terawatt, 60-beam, frequency-tripled Nd:glass laser system designed to perform precision direct-drive inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) experiments. The upgrade to the system, completed in April 1995, met or surpassed all technical requirements. The acceptance tests demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the system: high driver stability (< 2% variations), precise control of the beam profiles and amplifier gains, 75% frequency-conversion efficiency, beam energy balance less than 8% and stable on-target irradiation of up to 37 kJ UV. We present these results and show that the system performance is well modeled by our propagation and frequency-conversion codes.
Passively Q-switched 1.064-microm microchip lasers have been constructed from thin pieces of Nd(3+):YAG bonded to thin pieces of Cr(4+):YAG. When pumped with the unfocused 1.2-W output of a fiber-coupled diode, … Passively Q-switched 1.064-microm microchip lasers have been constructed from thin pieces of Nd(3+):YAG bonded to thin pieces of Cr(4+):YAG. When pumped with the unfocused 1.2-W output of a fiber-coupled diode, these devices produced 11-microJ pulses of 337-ps duration at a pulse repetition rate of 6 kHz in a single-frequency TEM(00) mode. The peak power of the lasers was in excess of 180 MW/cm(2).
Spectroscopic measurements and laser performance of Ti:Al2O3 are discussed in detail. Data on absorption and fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime as a function of temperature are presented. Laser characteristics observed … Spectroscopic measurements and laser performance of Ti:Al2O3 are discussed in detail. Data on absorption and fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime as a function of temperature are presented. Laser characteristics observed with pulsed-dye-laser, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG-laser, and argon-ion-laser pumping are covered and show that nearly quantum-limited conversion of pump radiation can be achieved, along with tuning over the wavelength range 660–986 nm.
Beam combining of laser arrays with high efficiency and good beam quality for power and radiance (brightness) scaling is a long-standing problem in laser technology. Recently, significant progress has been … Beam combining of laser arrays with high efficiency and good beam quality for power and radiance (brightness) scaling is a long-standing problem in laser technology. Recently, significant progress has been made using wavelength (spectral) techniques and coherent (phased array) techniques, which has led to the demonstration of beam combining of a large semiconductor diode laser array (100 array elements) with near-diffraction-limited output (M/sup 2//spl sim/1.3) at significant power (35 W). This paper provides an overview of progress in beam combining and highlights some of the tradeoffs among beam-combining techniques.
The growth of a radiation pulse traversing a medium with an inverted population is described by nonlinear, time-dependent photon transport equations, which account for the effect of the radiation on … The growth of a radiation pulse traversing a medium with an inverted population is described by nonlinear, time-dependent photon transport equations, which account for the effect of the radiation on the medium as well as vice versa. The equations are solved in closed form for an arbitrary input pulse and an arbitrary initial distribution of inverted population. The solutions are discussed in detail for the particular cases of a square pulse and a Lorentzian pulse, both with a uniform initial population inversion.
The absorption and emission cross sections of the transition between the ground spin-orbit multiplet and the lowest excited multiplet were measured for Er/sup 3+/, Tm/sup 3+/, and Ho/sup 3+/ ions … The absorption and emission cross sections of the transition between the ground spin-orbit multiplet and the lowest excited multiplet were measured for Er/sup 3+/, Tm/sup 3+/, and Ho/sup 3+/ ions in a variety of crystalline hosts. The materials that were investigated include LiYF/sub 4/, BaY/sub 2/F/sub 8/, Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/, LaF/sub 3/, KCaF/sub 3/, YAlO/sub 3/, and La/sub 2/Be/sub 2/O/sub 5/. The absolute magnitudes of the emission cross sections were determined from the absorption spectra, with the aid of the principle of reciprocity. The calculated radiative emission lifetimes derived from these measured cross sections agree well with the measured emission decay times for most materials. The potential use of these rare-earth-doped materials in pulsed laser applications requires that the ground state exhibit adequate splitting to minimize the detrimental effects of the ground state thermal population, and also that the emission cross section be sufficiently large to permit efficient extraction energy. The systems based on Ho/sup 3+/ in the eightfold coordinated sites of LiYF/sub 4/, BaY/sub 2/F/sub 8/, and Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/ appear to be the most promising.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
The fractional thermal loading, the ratio of heat generated to absorbed energy, at a 6.5 at.% doped Yb:YAG crystal diode pumped at 0.943 mu m has been measured to be … The fractional thermal loading, the ratio of heat generated to absorbed energy, at a 6.5 at.% doped Yb:YAG crystal diode pumped at 0.943 mu m has been measured to be <0.11 under conditions of no laser extraction. This quantity ranged from 0.37-0.43 in 1.04 at.% doped Nd:YAG pumped at 0.808 mu m. Under conditions of laser extraction, the fractional thermal loading in Yb:YAG is expected to remain nearly constant, whereas that in Nd:YAG at 1.064 mu m can be expected to drop to approximately 0.32.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
In order to estimate deleterious effects caused by heating in continuous-wave end-pumped solid-state lasers, the heat equation has been solved for an axially heated cylinder with a thermally conductive boundary … In order to estimate deleterious effects caused by heating in continuous-wave end-pumped solid-state lasers, the heat equation has been solved for an axially heated cylinder with a thermally conductive boundary at the periphery. Steady-state thermal profiles are developed using both a full numerical solution and an analytic approximation which assumes only radial heat flow. The analytic solution, which is in good agreement with the numerical solution, is utilized to obtain an expression for the thermal focusing due to temperature-induced refractive index changes. For Nd:YAG, 1 W of pump power deposited as heat is predicted to cause a thermal focusing length comparable to the cavity length of a typical diode end-pumped laser.
The absolute intensities of transitions occurring in the optical spectra of single crystals of ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ doped with small amounts of Pr, Nd, Eu, Er, and Tm; single crystals of La${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ … The absolute intensities of transitions occurring in the optical spectra of single crystals of ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ doped with small amounts of Pr, Nd, Eu, Er, and Tm; single crystals of La${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ doped with small amounts of Pr and Nd; and single crystals of ${\mathrm{Er}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ have been measured at room temperature. All observed transitions occur within the ground configurations of the trivalent rare-earth ions, and their intensities are accounted for using three phenomenological parameters for each system, whose values are determined by a a least-squares fitting calculation. A calculation of the relevant crystal-field terms is made, and theoretical values for the intensity parameters are calculated using free-ion radial wave functions and certain closure approximations. It is concluded that excited $4{f}^{n\ensuremath{-}1}$ $g$ configurations contribute to observed intensities more than is indicated by free-ion calculations, and that the excited $4{f}^{n\ensuremath{-}1}5d$ configuration contributes to the observed intensities an order of magnitude less than indicated by free-ion calculations. A hypersensitive transition in the neodymium systems is observed and its sensitivity is traced to a simple change in point symmetry of the host.
We demonstrate the highest intensity - 300 TW laser by developing booster amplifying stage to the 50-TW-Ti:sapphire laser (HERCULES). To our knowledge this is the first multi-100TW-scale laser at 0.1 … We demonstrate the highest intensity - 300 TW laser by developing booster amplifying stage to the 50-TW-Ti:sapphire laser (HERCULES). To our knowledge this is the first multi-100TW-scale laser at 0.1 Hz repetition rate.
Recently, interest in diode laser-pumped solid-state lasers has increased due to their advantages over flashlamp-pumped solid-state lasers. A historical overview is presented of semiconductor diode-pumped solid-state lasers beginning with work … Recently, interest in diode laser-pumped solid-state lasers has increased due to their advantages over flashlamp-pumped solid-state lasers. A historical overview is presented of semiconductor diode-pumped solid-state lasers beginning with work in the early 1960s and continuing through recent work on wavelength extension of these devices by laser operation on new transitions. Modeling of these devices by rate equations to obtain expressions for threshold, slope efficiency, and figures of merit is also given.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
A new nonlinear optical crystal CsLiB6O10 (CLBO), is described that can be grown from either stoichiometric melt or from solution. A large, high quality single crystal with dimensions of 14×11×11 … A new nonlinear optical crystal CsLiB6O10 (CLBO), is described that can be grown from either stoichiometric melt or from solution. A large, high quality single crystal with dimensions of 14×11×11 cm3 was obtained by the top-seeded Kyropoulos method. Fourth harmonic and fifth harmonic generations of the 1.064 μm Nd:YAG laser radiation with type-I phase matching were realized in the CLBO crystal. Output pulse energies obtained were 110 mJ at 266 nm and 35 mJ at 213 nm.
Wavelength tunable laser operation has been obtained from the solid-state crystal alexandrite (BeAl <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf> :Cr <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> ) over the continuous range from … Wavelength tunable laser operation has been obtained from the solid-state crystal alexandrite (BeAl <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf> :Cr <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3+</sup> ) over the continuous range from 701 to 818 nm. The tunable emission was observed at room temperature and above in a homogeneously broadened, vibronic, four-level mode of laser action. In this mode the laser gain cross section increases from <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">7 \times 10^{-21}</tex> cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> at 300K to <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2 \times 10^{-20}</tex> cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> at 475K, which results in improved laser performance at elevated temperatures. Efficient 2.5 percent, low-threshold (10 J) operation has been obtained with xenon-flashlamp excitation of the 6 mm diameter × 76 mm length laser rods. Output pulses of greater than 5 J and average power outputs of 35 W have been demonstrated, limited by the available power supply. The emission is strongly polarized <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">E\parallelb</tex> , with a gain that is 10 times that in the alternate polarization. The 262 μs, room-temperature fluorescence lifetime permits effective energy storage and <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Q</tex> -switched operation. Tunable <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Q</tex> -switched pulses as large as 500 mJ have been obtained with pulsewidths ranging between 33 and 200 ns depending on the laser gain. Laser action has also been demonstrated on the high-gain ( <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3 \times 10^{-19}</tex> cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> emission cross section) <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">R</tex> line at 680.4 nm and is also polarized <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">E\parallelb</tex> . This three-level mode is analogous to the lasing in ruby except that the stimulated emission cross section in alexandrite is ten times larger than for ruby.
Intracavity semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAM's) offer unique and exciting possibilities for passively pulsed solid-state laser systems, extending from Q-switched pulses in the nanosecond and picosecond regime to mode-locked pulses … Intracavity semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAM's) offer unique and exciting possibilities for passively pulsed solid-state laser systems, extending from Q-switched pulses in the nanosecond and picosecond regime to mode-locked pulses from 10's of picoseconds to sub-10 fs. This paper reviews the design requirements of SESAM's for stable pulse generation in both the mode-locked and Q-switched regime. The combination of device structure and material parameters for SESAM's provide sufficient design freedom to choose key parameters such as recovery time, saturation intensity, and saturation fluence, in a compact structure with low insertion loss. We have been able to demonstrate, for example, passive modelocking (with no Q-switching) using an intracavity saturable absorber in solid-state lasers with long upper state lifetimes (e.g., 1-/spl mu/m neodymium transitions), Kerr lens modelocking assisted with pulsewidths as short as 6.5 fs from a Ti:sapphire laser-the shortest pulses ever produced directly out of a laser without any external pulse compression, and passive Q-switching with pulses as short as 56 ps-the shortest pulses ever produced directly from a Q-switched solid-state laser. Diode-pumping of such lasers is leading to practical, real-world ultrafast sources, and we will review results on diode-pumped Cr:LiSAF, Nd:glass, Yb:YAG, Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Nd:LSB, and Nd:YVO/sub 4/.
The development of a coherent laser radar system using 2- mu m Tm- and Tm, Ho-doped solid-state lasers, which is useful for the remote range-resolved measurement of atmospheric winds, aerosol … The development of a coherent laser radar system using 2- mu m Tm- and Tm, Ho-doped solid-state lasers, which is useful for the remote range-resolved measurement of atmospheric winds, aerosol backscatter, and differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements of atmospheric water vapor and CO/sub 2/ concentrations, is described. Measurements made with the 2- mu m coherent laser radar system, advances in the laser technology, and atmospheric propagation effects on 2- mu m coherent lidar performance are discussed. Results include horizontal atmospheric wind measurements to >20 km. vertical wind measurements to >5 km, near-horizontal cloud returns to 100 km, and hard target (mountainside) returns from 145 km.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Efficient frequency doubling of a cw Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:YAG laser has been observed in commercial single-mode optical glass fibers. Pulses of duration ~55 psec and intensities as high as … Efficient frequency doubling of a cw Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:YAG laser has been observed in commercial single-mode optical glass fibers. Pulses of duration ~55 psec and intensities as high as ~0.55 kW were produced at 0.53 μm. The maximum peak power-conversion efficiency measured was ~3%. The frequency-doubled light generated in the glass fibers was sufficient to pump a commercial Rh6G dye laser with ~19% efficiency at 570 nm.
Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is a relatively new kind of Raman spectroscopy which is based on a nonlinear conversion of two laser beams into a coherent, laser-like Raman beam … Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is a relatively new kind of Raman spectroscopy which is based on a nonlinear conversion of two laser beams into a coherent, laser-like Raman beam of high intensity in the anti-Stokes region. The emission is often many orders of magnitude greater than normal Raman scattering and, because of the coherent and anti-Stokes character of radiation, the method is very useful for obtaining Raman spectra of fluorescing samples, gases in discharges, plasmas, combustion, atmospheric chemistry. In this paper we outline the basic theory behind CARS and describe its unusual effects and drawbacks. We review the research to date on various materials, and indicate the possible future direction, utility and applications of CARS such as surface studies, fluctuation phenomena, reaction dynamics, photochemistry, kinetics, relaxation, and energy transfer.
We have built a nonplanar ring oscillator with the resonator contained entirely within a Nd:YAG crystal. When the oscillator was placed in a magnetic field, unidirectional oscillation was obtained with … We have built a nonplanar ring oscillator with the resonator contained entirely within a Nd:YAG crystal. When the oscillator was placed in a magnetic field, unidirectional oscillation was obtained with a pump-limited, single-axial-mode output of 163 mW.
The emission and absorption properties of numerous host crystals doped with Yb/sup 3+/ ions have been studied. The hosts which have been selected include LiYF/sub 4/, LaF/sub 3/, SrF/sub 2/, … The emission and absorption properties of numerous host crystals doped with Yb/sup 3+/ ions have been studied. The hosts which have been selected include LiYF/sub 4/, LaF/sub 3/, SrF/sub 2/, BaF/sub 2/, KCaF/sub 3/, KY/sub 3/F/sub 10/, Rb/sub 2/NaYF/sub 6/, BaY/sub 2/F/sub 8/, Y/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/, Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/, YAlO/sub 3/, LuPO/sub 4/, Ca/sub 5/(PO/sub 4/)/sub 3/F, LiYO/sub 2/, and ScBO/sub 3/. Spectral determinations have been made of the resonant absorption and emission cross sections between 850 and 1100 nm, and the emission decay times of the upper laser level have been measured. The emission cross sections have been evaluated using the absorption cross section and principle of reciprocity, and again using the Fuchtbauer-Ladenberg formula. Agreement between the two methods is within 20% for most materials. The results are discussed in the framework of requirements for an effective diode-pumped Yb/sup 3+/ laser system. Ca/sub 5/(PO/sub 4/)/sub 3/F:Yb is predicted to exhibit the most useful laser properties and is expected to be far superior to Y/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/:Yb in many key microscopic parameter values.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
The principal ideas of the thin-disk laser design will be illustrated and the advantages for operating different laser materials will be explained. The results for continuous-wave (CW) and Q-switched operation … The principal ideas of the thin-disk laser design will be illustrated and the advantages for operating different laser materials will be explained. The results for continuous-wave (CW) and Q-switched operation as well as for amplification of short (nanosecond) and ultrashort (picosecond, femtosecond) pulses demonstrate the potential of the thin-disk laser design. The scaling laws for this laser design show that the power limit for CW operation is far beyond 40 kW for one single disk and the energy limit is higher than 3 J from one disk in pulsed operation. Also, the applicability of the thin-disk laser concept to optically pumped semiconductor structures will be discussed. When pumping directly into the quantum wells, the energy defect between the pump photon and the laser photon can be smaller than 5%, thus reducing the waste heat generated inside the semiconductor structure. First results demonstrate the potential of this new concept. Finally, a short overview of the industrial realization of the thin-disk laser technology will be given.
Ytterbium-doped silica fibers exhibit very broad absorption and emission bands, from /spl sim/800 nm to /spl sim/1064 nm for absorption and /spl sim/970 nm to /spl sim/1200 nm for emission. … Ytterbium-doped silica fibers exhibit very broad absorption and emission bands, from /spl sim/800 nm to /spl sim/1064 nm for absorption and /spl sim/970 nm to /spl sim/1200 nm for emission. The simplicity of the level structure provides freedom from unwanted processes such as excited state absorption, multiphonon nonradiative decay, and concentration quenching. These fiber lasers therefore offer a very efficient and convenient means of wavelength conversion from a wide variety of pump lasers, including AlGaAs and InGaAs diodes and Nd:YAG lasers. Efficient operation with narrow linewidth at any wavelength in the emission range can be conveniently achieved using fiber gratings. A wide range of application for these sources can be anticipated. In this paper, the capabilities of this versatile source are reviewed. Analytical procedures and numerical data are presented to enable design choices to be made for the wide range of operating conditions.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Transparent polycrystalline YAG with nearly the same optical characteristics as those of a single crystal were fabricated by a solid‐state reaction method using high‐purity powders (&gt;99.99 wt% purity). The average … Transparent polycrystalline YAG with nearly the same optical characteristics as those of a single crystal were fabricated by a solid‐state reaction method using high‐purity powders (&gt;99.99 wt% purity). The average grain size and relative density of the 1.1 at.% Nd:YAG ceramics obtained were about 50 μm and 99.98%, respectively. An oscillation experiment was performed on a cw laser by the diode laser excitation system using the fabricated ceramics. The experimental results indicated an oscillation threshold and a slope efficiency of 309 mW and 28%, respectively. These values were equivalent or superior to those of the 0.9 at.% Nd:YAG single crystal fabricated by the Czochralski method.
The spectroscopic and laser kinetic properties of the trivalent ytterbium ion in various solid-state media are reviewed. Contrasts between four- and quasi-three-level lasers (e.g., Nd:YAG versus Yb:YAG) are highlighted. Various … The spectroscopic and laser kinetic properties of the trivalent ytterbium ion in various solid-state media are reviewed. Contrasts between four- and quasi-three-level lasers (e.g., Nd:YAG versus Yb:YAG) are highlighted. Various architectures suitable for use in high-brightness high-power Yb:YAG lasers are examined, and achieved laser performance levels are summarized. The properties of alternative ytterbium-doped laser gain media are reviewed, and early laser results are cited.
Many solid-state lasers of current interest exhibit reabsorption loss. Previous modeling calculations of laser performance with longitudinal pumping either have neglected reabsorption loss or have been valid only for certain … Many solid-state lasers of current interest exhibit reabsorption loss. Previous modeling calculations of laser performance with longitudinal pumping either have neglected reabsorption loss or have been valid only for certain special cases of the ratio of the pump- and laser-beam waists. Rigorous numerical modeling calculations have been carried out to provide a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of longitudinally pumped solid-state lasers, including reabsorption loss and for arbitrary sizes of the pump- and laser-beam waists. In addition, certain aspects of laser behavior that have traditionally not been discussed in papers on laser modeling, such as clamping, saturation, and spatial distribution of the population-inversion density, are investigated to provide a general understanding of laser performance. The results are applied to a particular solid-state laser of current practical interest, the 946-nm Nd:YAG laser.
In optimizing passively Q-switched lasers, there is a unique choice of output coupler and unsaturated absorber transmission which maximizes the laser output energy and efficiency for each three-way combination of … In optimizing passively Q-switched lasers, there is a unique choice of output coupler and unsaturated absorber transmission which maximizes the laser output energy and efficiency for each three-way combination of laser gain medium, absorber medium, and pump intensity (i.e, inversion density). In the present paper, we generalize and solve the three coupled differential equations which describe the passively Q-switched laser to obtain closed form solutions for key laser parameters such as the output energy and pulsewidth. We then apply the Lagrange multiplier technique to determine the optimum mirror reflectivities and unsaturated absorber transmissions as a function of two dimensionless variables. The first variable, z, corresponds to the ratio of the logarithmic round-trip small signal gain to the round-trip dissipative (nonuseful) optical loss and is identical to that which was used in previous treatments to optimize the rapidly Q-switched laser. The second variable, /spl alpha/, is unique to the passively Q-switched laser and is equal to the saturation energy density of the amplifying medium divided by the saturation energy density of the absorber. It is largely determined by the ration of the absorber to stimulated emission cross sections, but also depends on the speed of relaxation mechanisms in the amplifying and absorbing media relative to the resonator photon decay time. Several design curves, valid for all four level amplifying and absorbing media, are then generated. These permit the design of an optimum passively Q-switched laser and an estimate of its key performance parameters to be obtained quickly with the aid of a simple hand calculator. In the limit of large /spl alpha/ (>10), the design curves are virtually indistinguishable from the rapidly Q-switched case. The curves can also be used to perform rapid tradeoff studies of different absorbing materials. The theory can also be applied to CW-pumped, repetitively Q-switched systems through a simple multiplicative factor for the laser gain. The theory is applied to the analysis of a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser previously reported in the literature and shown to give excellent agreement with the experimental results.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers are modeled using the propagation and rate equations of a homogeneous two-level laser medium. Numerical methods are used to analyze the effects of optical modes and erbium … Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers are modeled using the propagation and rate equations of a homogeneous two-level laser medium. Numerical methods are used to analyze the effects of optical modes and erbium confinement on amplifier performance, and to calculate both the gain and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectra. Fibers with confined erbium doping are completely characterized from easily measured parameters: the ratio of the linear ion density to fluorescence lifetime, and the absorption of gain spectra. Analytical techniques then allow accurate evaluation of gain, saturation, and noise in low-gain amplifiers (G<or approximately=20 dB).<<ETX>>
A method for calculating induced-emission cross sections in neodymium laser glasses, based on simple absorbance measurements, has been demonstrated. Absorption and emission transition probabilities of four silicate-base neodymium laser glasses … A method for calculating induced-emission cross sections in neodymium laser glasses, based on simple absorbance measurements, has been demonstrated. Absorption and emission transition probabilities of four silicate-base neodymium laser glasses have been characterized in terms of the Judd-Ofelt (JO) model of crystal-field-induced electric-dipole transitions. Absolute absorption intensities in 3669A, ED-2, LSG-91H, and S33 glasses were measured and used to determine three phenomenological intensity parameters for each glass which accounted for the measured intensities to within 5 percent (rms). Emission intensities between the metastable <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">F_{3/2}</tex> and terminal <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">I J</tex> levels were then calculated for each glass, together with the <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">F_{3/2}</tex> radiative lifetime, fluorescence branching ratios, and radiative quantum efficiency. Calculated values of these quantities for 3669A and S33 glasses are compared with measured values appearing in the literature. Using experimental line shapes for the <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">F_{3/2} \rightarrow</tex> <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">I_{11/2}</tex> transitions at 1.06μ, induced-emission cross sections for these glasses were calculated.
Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers, Second Edition discusses the essential principles, operating characteristics, and current technology of the main fiber laser and amplifier devices based on rare-earth-doped silica and fluorozirconate … Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers, Second Edition discusses the essential principles, operating characteristics, and current technology of the main fiber laser and amplifier devices based on rare-earth-doped silica and fluorozirconate fibers. Covering all aspects of this revolutionary technology, the book reviews fiber fabrication methods and the basic spectroscopic properties of rare-earth ions in glasses, concentrates on the most important fiber laser sources, examines several advances in fiber amplifiers, and analyzes new findings and improvements in single-frequency operation, frequency tenability, broadband fiber sources, and blue-green and far-infrared fiber lasers.
We present a model of a Cr2+-doped saturable absorber (SA), which is employed in passively Q-switched (PQS) Tm:CaF2 lasers. The overall round-trip loss, the time evolution of the intracavity photon … We present a model of a Cr2+-doped saturable absorber (SA), which is employed in passively Q-switched (PQS) Tm:CaF2 lasers. The overall round-trip loss, the time evolution of the intracavity photon density, and the effective population inversion density can all be obtained through numerical solutions. Under the mode-matching condition, this model can be used to easily determine the PQS laser’s main output parameters, including the average output power, repetition frequency, peak power, pulse energy, and pulse width. This concept is also applicable to a range of thulium-doped solid-state lasers (SSLs) operating on the transition from the 3F4 level to the 3H6 level, which are Q-switched by a Cr2+-doped SA. This model is helpful for the design and optimization of this kind of laser.
Metal halide perovskite has attracted great interest as a promising optoelectronic device material due to its inherent excellent photoelectric properties. Currently, perovskites have made significant strides in enhancing their efficiency, … Metal halide perovskite has attracted great interest as a promising optoelectronic device material due to its inherent excellent photoelectric properties. Currently, perovskites have made significant strides in enhancing their efficiency, yet their industrial advancement and multiscenario applications remain hampered by manufacturing technology. In this work, high-quality MAPbI3 single-crystal films were prepared through low spatial frequency laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) with a depth of 139 nm on the surface of ITO processed by femtosecond laser. Femtosecond laser processing revealed that the period of LIPSS decreases with the increase of laser fluence and increases with the increase of scanning speed. Meanwhile, the depth of LIPSS grows with increasing laser fluence and first ascends and then descends as scanning speed goes up. Ultrafast pump probe experiments revealed that the coulomb explosion dominated the interaction mechanism between the femtosecond laser and material at low laser fluence, while the phase explosion became the main mechanism at high laser fluence. The LIPSS with a depth of 139 nm was selected as the substrate to prepare MAPbI3 single-crystal films based on the spatially confined growth method as it greatly facilitates the light absorption rate of MAPbI3 single-crystal films by FDTD simulation. SEM, EDS, and XRD analyses proved that the MAPbI3 single-crystal films have excellent surface quality morphology and uniform element distribution. The average lifetime of an MAPbI3 single crystal obtained by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy is about 24.05 ns, which indicates the low defect density and a long carrier lifetime in MAPbI3 single-crystal films. Transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that Auger recombination is the primary carrier recombination mode at high excitation fluence, which proposed a strong carrier band filling effect and energy structure with two conduction bands in MAPbI3 single-crystal films. The accumulated carriers promoted the excited-state absorption and slowed down the recombination, which is meaningful for the further application of MAPbI3 single-crystal films in optoelectronic devices.
<title>Abstract</title> Laser power stabilization plays an important role in modern precision instruments based on atom-laser interactions. Here we demonstrate an alternative active control method of laser power utilizing the conservation … <title>Abstract</title> Laser power stabilization plays an important role in modern precision instruments based on atom-laser interactions. Here we demonstrate an alternative active control method of laser power utilizing the conservation law in an acoustic optic modulator (AOM). By adjusting the 1st order beam power to dynamically follow the fluctuation of the total power of all diffraction beams, the 0th order application beam as the difference term, is stabilized. Experimental result demonstrates that the relative power noise of the controlled application beam is reduced by a factor of 200, reaching $4 \times 10^{-6} $ Hz$^{-1/2}$ at 10$^{-4}$ Hz compared with the uncontrolled total power. Allan deviation shows that the application beam reaches a relative power instability of 3.28$\times 10^{-6}$ at 500 s averaging time. In addition, the method allows a high availability of total power source. The method opens a new way of laser power stabilization and shall be very useful in applications such as atomic clocks, laser interferometers and gyroscopes.
A laser diode (LD) end-pumped continuous-wave (CW) tunable Nd3+:LiYF4 (Nd:YLF) laser operating on the 4F3/2→4I13/2 transition was performed. Four single-wavelength (SW) lasing at 1321, 1314, 1371, and 1364 nm in … A laser diode (LD) end-pumped continuous-wave (CW) tunable Nd3+:LiYF4 (Nd:YLF) laser operating on the 4F3/2→4I13/2 transition was performed. Four single-wavelength (SW) lasing at 1321, 1314, 1371, and 1364 nm in the π-polarized direction and three SW lasing at 1314, 1326, and 1371 nm in the σ-polarized direction were achieved using a tuning prism. At 20 W pump power, the σ-polarized 1314 nm emission generated 7.3 W power output with 39.4% slope efficiency. Further, the three-pair of switchable π-polarized dual-wavelengths (DWs) at 1321/1314 nm, 1371/1364 nm, and 1321/1364 nm and the two-pair of switchable σ-polarized DWs at 1314/1326 nm and 1314/1371 nm were also realized by rotating an intracavity birefringence filter (BF). In addition, by employing dual intracavity BFs, the balanced DW output power was attained, achieving 6.4 W total maximum output at 1314/1321 nm in the π-polarized direction.
Research on the thermal analysis of laser diode (LD) side-pumped amplifiers is a critical step in the design of high-power solid-state laser systems. Instead of adopting a standard solid modeling … Research on the thermal analysis of laser diode (LD) side-pumped amplifiers is a critical step in the design of high-power solid-state laser systems. Instead of adopting a standard solid modeling approach that only considers a laser rod, a fluid–structure interaction model is employed for analysis using the FLUENT 2021 R1 software. This model integrates the cooling structure, coolant, and laser rod, incorporating their relevant material parameters. By considering both uniform and non-uniform inlet velocity distributions as loading conditions, the study reveals remarkably different thermal simulation results. The correlation between thermal analysis outcomes and the total inlet flow rates is calculated, while temperature and stress distributions are obtained under a varying internal heat source. It was observed that the non-uniform inlet velocity distribution has little impact on the rod’s maximum temperature but significantly influences the maximum equivalent stress. This finding underscores the necessity of accounting for non-uniform inlet distributions during the design of laser amplifiers to achieve more accurate thermal simulation results and optimize structural reliability.
We present a wavelength-conversion laser system using Tm/Ho:YLF composite crystals, based on a switchable output coupling system and F-P etalons for the first time, to our knowledge. The system enables … We present a wavelength-conversion laser system using Tm/Ho:YLF composite crystals, based on a switchable output coupling system and F-P etalons for the first time, to our knowledge. The system enables flexible switching between Tm and Ho lasers and independently achieves tunable for both lasers. At 20.74 W pump power, the Tm laser at 1903.68 nm and the Ho laser at 2064.60 nm were achieved with maximum powers of 2.99 and 2.61 W. At 14.19 W pump power, continuous tuning of Tm (1875.60-1885.31 nm, 1902.75-1904.75 nm) and Ho (2050.75-2064.60 nm) lasers was achieved by adjusting the F-P etalons. This wavelength-conversion system can flexibly meet diverse requirements for laser types and wavelengths in different application scenarios, demonstrating broad application prospects.