Title :
Synchronization of dual-line lasing and subsequent gigahertz modulation of iodine lasers through mode locking
Author :
Nicholson, J.W. ; Rudolph, W. ; Hager, G.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys. & Astron., New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM, USA
fDate :
10/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Dual hyperfine line lasing of a Zeeman-tuned photolytic iodine laser resulting in 14-GHz modulated laser radiation was studied experimentally and theoretically as a function of the applied magnetic field. Synchronization of the phases of the two hyperfine lines necessary for optimum gigahertz modulation was achieved by mode locking. The resulting pulse durations of 740 ps were shorter than those previously observed without a magnetic field. Short pulses, together with the possibility of scaling the results to high-power chemical-oxygen iodine lasers, make this concept attractive for a laser-driven ultrawideband microwave source
Keywords :
Zeeman effect; chemical lasers; iodine; laser beams; laser mode locking; laser transitions; laser tuning; optical modulation; synchronisation; 14 GHz; 740 ps; I; I photolytic laser; O2-I; Zeeman-tuned photolytic laser; applied magnetic field; dual-line lasing; gigahertz modulation; high-power chemical O2-I lasers; hyperfine lines; laser-driven ultrawideband microwave source; mode locking; modulated laser radiation; optimum gigahertz modulation; pulse durations; scaling; synchronization; Chemical lasers; Frequency synchronization; Laser mode locking; Laser modes; Laser theory; Laser transitions; Magnetic fields; Magnetic modulators; Masers; Optical pulses;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
