DocumentCode :
1138751
Title :
FM-laser operation of the Nd:YAG laser
Author :
Kuizenga, Dirk J. ; Siegman, A.E.
Author_Institution :
Microwave Laboratory and Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Volume :
6
Issue :
11
fYear :
1970
fDate :
11/1/1970 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
673
Lastpage :
677
Abstract :
The FM-laser or frequency-sweeping mode of laser oscillation has been demonstrated in a Nd :YAG 1.06-μ laser with an intracavity LiNbO3 phase modulator. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical expression 
where δ= peak single-pass phase retardation in the modulator, 
= axial mode spacing, 
=modulator detuning, and Δ=resulting FM index of the laser output. Modulation indices as large as 
rad have been obtained, in which case the instantaneous laser frequency is sweeping over a full spectral range of 
GHz (≈ 4 cm-1) at a repetition frequency 
MHz, with a time-bandwidth product per period 
. The coherently mode-locked spectral bandwidth thus obtained in the FM-laser case is very much wider than can be achieved in the pulsed mode-locked case with the same Nd:YAG laser. Some possible ways of using this broad-band coherent FM spectrum are suggested.
where δ= peak single-pass phase retardation in the modulator, = axial mode spacing, =modulator detuning, and Δ=resulting FM index of the laser output. Modulation indices as large as rad have been obtained, in which case the instantaneous laser frequency is sweeping over a full spectral range of GHz (≈ 4 cm-1) at a repetition frequency MHz, with a time-bandwidth product per period . The coherently mode-locked spectral bandwidth thus obtained in the FM-laser case is very much wider than can be achieved in the pulsed mode-locked case with the same Nd:YAG laser. Some possible ways of using this broad-band coherent FM spectrum are suggested.Keywords :
Frequency modulation; Gas lasers; Laser mode locking; Laser modes; Laser theory; Laser tuning; Lasers and electrooptics; Optical pulses; Phase modulation; Pulse modulation;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0018-9197
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.1970.1076348
Filename :
1076348
Link To Document :
