Title :
Dye laser studies using zig-zag optical cavity
Author :
Klimek, Daniel E. ; Mandl, Alexander E. ; Willman, Ben
Author_Institution :
Textron Defense Syst., Everett, MA, USA
fDate :
6/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We report a substantial advance in dye laser performance using a zig-zag optical cavity. This configuration drastically reduces the effects of intrapulse medium disturbances due to acoustics and thermal lensing on pulse duration, beam quality, and extraction efficiency. Laser outputs of up to 2 J were observed from Coumarin-498 dye pumped by a KrF excimer laser. The dye laser output faithfully replicates the hat-top KrF laser pump pulse over the entire 1.7-μs pulse duration. An intrinsic laser photon conversion efficiency (Photonsin/Photonsabsorbed) of 44% was measured. When unstable resonator optics were used, beam qualities of about 2 XDL were measured
Keywords :
dye lasers; laser cavity resonators; optical pumping; 1.7 mus; 2 J; 44 percent; Coumarin-498; acoustics; beam quality; dye laser; extraction efficiency; hat-top KrF excimer laser pump pulse; intrapulse medium disturbances; intrinsic laser photon conversion efficiency; pulse duration; thermal lensing; unstable resonator optics; zig-zag optical cavity; Acoustic beams; Acoustic pulses; Laser beams; Laser excitation; Optical beams; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Optical resonators; Pump lasers; Thermal lensing;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
