Title :
Simple 1 micron ring laser oscillators pumped by fiber-coupled laser diodes
Author :
Alfrey, Anthony J.
Author_Institution :
Edward L. Ginzton Lab., Stanford Univ., CA, USA
fDate :
10/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We have designed simple nonplanar Nd:YAG ring laser oscillators that utilize all flat mirrors and are pumped by the fiber-coupled output from ten 3 watt diode lasers. We have obtained up to 8.5 W at 1.06 microns of diffraction-limited, single frequency output with no measureable astigmatism or ellipticity with a total pump power of 26 W from a pair of 400 micron diameter fibers. Convex curved surfaces on the Nd:YAG rod are used to increase the cavity mode size at the rod while minimizing the contribution of aspheric thermal lensing. Comparison to a linear cavity with no intracavity polarizing element indicates that stress depolarization is a significant loss mechanism in the ring laser. The cavity design is also suitable for use with birefringent laser media, such as Nd:YLF or Nd:YVO4
Keywords :
laser accessories; laser cavity resonators; mirrors; neodymium; optical couplers; optical fibres; optical losses; optical pumping; solid lasers; 1.06 mum; 26 W; 8.5 W; Nd:YAG rod; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; aspheric thermal lensing; astigmatism; cavity design; cavity mode size; convex curved surfaces; diffraction-limited single frequency output; diode lasers; ellipticity; fiber-coupled laser diodes; fiber-coupled output; flat mirrors; intracavity polarizing element; linear cavity; loss mechanism; simple nonplanar Nd:YAG ring laser oscillators; stress depolarization; total pump power; Diode lasers; Fiber lasers; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Mirrors; Optical design; Optical fiber polarization; Pump lasers; Ring lasers; Ring oscillators;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
