Title :
Nd:YAG loop resonator with a Cr4+:YAG self-pumped phase-conjugate mirror
Author :
Sillard, Pierre ; Brignon, Arnaud ; Huignard, Jean-Pierre
Author_Institution :
Lab. Central de Recherches, Thomson-CSF, Orsay, France
fDate :
3/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We demonstrate a Nd:YAG loop resonator with a self-pumped phase conjugate, mirror in a Cr4+:YAG crystal, in the nanosecond regime. A maximum extraction of 29 mJ and a maximum reflectivity of 3.3 are obtained. The output beam is a high-quality diffraction-limited TEM 00 mode and has a pulse shape of ~20-ns duration, showing the self Q-switching ability of the resonator. In addition, we demonstrate an original and specific configuration of the anisotropic Cr4+:YAG crystal that compensates not only for phase aberrations but also for polarization aberrations induced into the loop resonator
Keywords :
aberrations; chromium; geometry; high-speed optical techniques; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser mirrors; laser modes; neodymium; optical phase conjugation; optical pumping; optical saturable absorption; reflectivity; solid lasers; 20 ns; 29 mJ; Cr4+:YAG self-pumped phase-conjugate mirror; Nd:YAG loop resonator; YAG:Cr; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Cr; YAl5O12:Nd; anisotropic Cr4+:YAG crystal; high-quality diffraction-limited TEM00 mode; laser cavity resonators; maximum energy extraction; maximum reflectivity; nanosecond regime; ns duration; output beam; phase aberrations; polarization aberrations; pulse shape; self Q-switching ability; self-pumped phase conjugate mirrors; solid lasers; Absorption; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Chromium; Diffraction; Geometry; Mirrors; Optical amplifiers; Optical resonators; Reflectivity; Semiconductor optical amplifiers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
