Two-frequency injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser

Author

Raymond, T.D. ; Smith, A.V.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Lasers, Opt. & Remote Sensing, Sandia Nat. Labs., Albuquerque, NM, USA

Volume

31

Issue

10

fYear

1995

fDate

10/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1734

Lastpage

1737

Abstract

Dual longitudinal mode (DLM) operation of a Nd:YAG laser is achieved by simultaneously injection seeding with two seed frequencies. We show that the relative energy in the two frequency components can be adjusted by varying the relative seed power, and that they have excellent spatial, angular, and temporal overlap. The result is a deeply modulated 1.06-μm pulse with a modulation frequency that can be tuned from 185 MHz to at least 17 GHz in 185 MHz increments. In addition to the two seeded frequencies, weak sidebands are also observed in the output spectra. Their energy content is typically less than 1% of that of the seeded modes. We discuss mechanisms which might cause them

Keywords

laser modes; laser tuning; neodymium; optical modulation; solid lasers; 1.06 mum; Nd:YAG laser; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; angular overlap; dual longitudinal mode operation; energy content; frequency components; modulation frequency; output spectra; relative energy; relative seed power; seed frequencies; seeded modes; simultaneously injection seeding; spatial overlap; temporal overlap; tuned; two-frequency injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser; weak sidebands; Frequency conversion; Laser beams; Laser modes; Laser tuning; Monitoring; Neodymium; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Oscillators; Pulse modulation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.466046

Filename

466046