Experimental study of a broad-band XeCl double-pass amplifier with SBS mirror

An oscillator-amplifier XeCl laser system has been used to experimentally investigate the effectiveness of a liquid stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) mirror for correcting the spatial aberrations of broad-band laser radiation in a double-pass amplifier. It has been found that the SBS amplifier performance is strongly dependent on the intensity I _p exciting the Brillouin medium. A good beam reconstruction has been attained at I _p1GW/cm², whereas highly aberrated output beams have been delivered by the SBS amplifier for I _p>1 GW/cm². By comparing the broad-band SBS amplifier performance to that of the same amplifier with a dielectrically coated flat mirror at one end, it has been found that the use of a SBS mirror is advantageous to obtain lower divergence output beams only for low energy pump beams (<1 mJ).     

Investigation on the output energy characteristic of optical limiting based on stimulated Brillouin scattering

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) featuring sub-nanosecond response time takes place at a high power threshold, which enables its application at a high power density. When the intensity of input light excesses the SBS threshold, strong SBS process takes place through SBS medium, leading to a quick energy transfer from pump to the Stokes and thereby an optical limiting characteristic in the output energy. In this paper, the correlation between SBS output energy and input power density is numerically simulated and validated in the Nd: YAG Q-switch laser system. The results indicate that not only the output energy exhibits an optical limiting characteristic, but also the clamped value of output energy can be controlled by changing the medium or the focal length.     

Highly efficient Raman conversion in O2 pumped by a seeded narrow band second-harmonic Nd:YAG laser

The first-Stokes conversion efficiency for a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is usually very low in gaseous oxygen media. In 3.0 Mpa O₂, a single longitudinal mode second harmonic Nd:YAG laser pump source gives a typical vibrational first-Stokes conversion efficiency of only 2.5%, In comparison, the accompanying stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) attains a reflectivity of 67%. However, by seeding an OPO beam into the Raman cavity, the first-Stokes photon conversion efficiency now attains a peak value of 54%, while the SBS reflectivity reduces to 5% in a 6.1 Mpa 41:59 O₂/ He mixture. This 54% efficiency was obtained for a seeder laser pulse-width less than one half that of pump laser (6.8 ns). A first-Stokes peak power conversion efficiency as high as 88% has been obtained when the pump and seeder pulse peaks coincide. So, we may expect a higher first-Stokes photon conversion efficiency if the seeder pulse-width can be made equal to or larger than that of the pump pulse. On the other hand, the beam quality of the first-Stokes in an O₂/ He mixture excels that of the pump laser for a seeder energy of 5 mJ and pump energy of 50 mJ. However, at pump energies higher than 105 mJ and a pump laser repetition rate of 10 Hz, the thermal defocusing effect worsens the first-Stokes beam quality. This thermal defocusing effect is a result of the Raman heat release and could be eliminated by fast circulating and cooling the Raman gas medium.     

Improved output energy characteristic of optical limiting based on double stimulated Brillouin scattering

In order to improve the optical limiting performance based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), a method based on double SBS is proposed in this paper. The dependence of the output energy of optical limiting based on double SBS on the pump energy is numerically simulated, and experimentally validated with an Nd:YAG seed-injected laser. The results indicate that only the first SBS optical limiting works in the case of low pump energy. However, as the pump energy increases, the second SBS process can be activated if the transmitted power of the first SBS is still above the SBS threshold. Therefore, the output energy characteristic of optical limiting based on double SBS is much better than that based on single SBS. Owing to the sub-nanosecond response time and a high power threshold, the SBS optical limiting can provide protection in high power laser systems.     

Investigation on improving characteristics of two-cell SBS system with CCl4/C2H5OH liquid mixture

In order to improve the performance of the two-cell stimulated Brillouin scattering （SBS） system, this paper proposes the methods of using mixtures, which require amplifier media to have small absorption rate, and generator media to have high optical breakdown threshold and Brillouin frequency shift equal to that of the amplification media. The characteristics of the two-cell SBS system are studied experimentally by using CCl4 as amplifier medium and CCl4, C2H5OH and CCl4/C2H5OH liquid mixture as generator medium pumped by Nd：YAG Q-switched laser. The obtained results show that liquid mixture in generator cell improves the power load ability, phase conjugation fidelity, energy reflectivity （ER） and ER stability.     

SBS mirrors for XeCl lasers with a broad spectrum

The stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold of focused broad-band XeCl laser radiation depends on the ratio of the coherence length to the Rayleigh range, which is affected by the transverse beam quality. With reduction of the focal length, the threshold decreases first and then reaches a nearly constant value. In addition, the energy reflectivity is increased. On the other hand, pulse shortening occurs and the phase conjugation fidelity is decreased. Separation of single lines from the structured XeCl laser spectrum improves the SBS efficiency.     

Investigation of stimulated brillouin backscattering of nanosecond CO2 laser radiation from an extended underdense plasma

Stimulated Brillouin backscattering (SBS) of nanosecond CO₂ laser radiation is investigated from an homogeneous extended plasma for well defined interaction conditions. It is found that SBS saturates at the theoretical limit near 100% Growth of SBS ion-waves starts from near thermal-wave amplitudes. Theoretical and observed SBS threshold fluxes agree within the 50% error bounds of these values. It is pointed out that self focusing does not greatly affect SBS under the conditions investigated. SBS thresholds depend on plasma density and focal spot diameter. It is indicated that an equilibrium between inverse bremsstrahlung absorption and classical heat conduction can explain several aspects.     

Pulsed solid-state laser system with fiber phase conjugation and 315 W average output power

Solid-state laser sources with high average output power and high beam quality are required for numerous applications in industry and science. To improve the beam quality, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) mirrors based on optical phase conjugation are used to compensate for phase distortions in master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) systems. SBS phase conjugation in commercially available silica optical fibers facilitates the construction of high-power solid-state laser systems with high beam quality. Here we present a flash lamp-pumped, passively Q-switched Nd:YAP system which delivers an average output power of 315 W with M²=2.6 at a wavelength of 1.08 μm. Received: 11 July 2001 / Revised version: 28 September 2001 / Published online: 23 November 2001     

一种利用混合介质测量SBS介质布里渊线宽的方法

提出了一种利用双池受激布里渊散射(SBS)系统选用混合介质,进而测量SBS介质布里渊线宽的方法.在紧凑双池SBS系统的放大池中放入待测介质,在振荡池中放入布里渊频移可调的混合介质,测出放大池待测介质增益系数随布里渊频移偏离的洛伦兹曲线,该曲线半高处的线宽即为待测介质的布里渊线宽.实验上在Nd:YAG调Q激光系统中,选用CCl₄/C₆H₆混合介质,测量了四氯乙烯(C₂Cl₄)、六氯丁二烯(C_{关键词： 受激布里渊散射 混合介质 布里渊线宽}     

激光与材料参数对瞬态SBS 诱导的激光超声破坏效果的影响

 通过数值求解一维瞬态受激布里渊散射（SBS）声光耦合波方程，从理论上分析了泵浦激光参数及光学材料参数对SBS过程发生阈值的影响。以SBS过程中建立起来的应力场抗拉（压）强度和散射场的反射率为判据，分析了激光脉宽及作用区域长度对激光超声破坏材料效果的影响，探讨了短脉冲激光（约ns）引起的激光超声对材料的破坏机理；讨论了通过参数配置有效遏制SBS过程激光超声对光学材料的破坏问题。     

选用新介质的双池受激布里渊散射系统的研究

从介质化学结构与吸收系数的关系入手，寻找出系列吸收系数小，适合作为放大池介质的新介质，例如四氯乙烯(C₂Cl₄)，1，3-六氯丁二烯(C₄Cl₆)和六氟化苯(C₆F₆)等，并计算或测量了入射光波长为1.064μm时的新介质受激布里渊散射(SBS)参数.在双池SBS系统的放大池中分别选用C₂Cl₄和C₄Cl₆，振荡池中均选用光学击穿阈值高，并且布里渊频移与C₂Cl₄和C₄Cl₆的布里渊频移非常接近的乙醇(C₂H₅OH)，并利用Nd:YAG调Q激光器研究了该系统的性能.实验结果表明，该系统具有高负载能力，高相位共轭保真度和高能量反射率稳定度等性能. 关键词： 受激布里渊散射 双池SBS系统 新介质     

Theoretical Analysis of the Critical Phenomena of a Brillouin Laser

The critical phenomena of a Brillouin laser are analyzed theoretically. The results show that the behavior of a Brillouin laser in the threshold region is a second-order phase transition. The critical point of the phase transition is the gain threshold of the Brillouin laser, and the order parameter is the amplitude of the Stokes component in stimulated Brillouin scattering. The critical slow-down phenomenon and the typical characteristics in phase transition are demonstrated. Further work on the combination of nonlinear optics and phase transition in the Brillouin laser may lead to a new view and findings that could be significant for both fields.     

Theoretical investigation on the threshold value of stimulated Brillouin scattering in terms of laser intensity

The threshold value of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) was investigated theoretically basing on a new concept of real gain length (RGL). It shows that for ideal steady-state SBS or ideal transient SBS, the threshold values are both constants and the later is five orders of magnitude larger than the former. Under general conditions, whether steady-state SBS or transient SBS will occur is determined by RGL. The SBS occurred in a long material may not be steady-state SBS.     

水中受激布里渊散射微弱Stokes信号光的高增益放大

采用脉冲宽度为7.2 ns的种子光注入式倍频Nd:YAG脉冲激光器,以CS₂为放大介质,实验并理论研究了水中受激布里渊散射微弱Stokes光的信号增益随延迟时间、放大器池长、抽运光能量的变化规律. 结果表明,当抽运光脉冲相对信号光脉冲延迟进入放大器,且延迟时间为脉冲宽度的一半,抽运光能量略低于介质受激布里渊散射阈值,选择合适的放大器池长可获得最佳的信号增益. 适当选择抽运光能量,亦可实现微弱信号光的线性放大. 实验中采用独立双池放大系统,当水中Stokes信号光的能量为1 pJ时,信 关键词： 布里渊放大器 信号增益 延迟时间 抽运光能量     

Stimulated Brillouin scattering of Q-switched laser pulses in large-core optical fibres

Q-switched Nd : glass laser pulses of 60 ns duration are transmitted through multimode fused-silica fibres of 0.4–1 mm core diam and lengths of up to 20 m. For laser radiation with narrow spectral width, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is observed for energies well below the threshold energy of fibre damage. The SBS threshold is shifted beyond the threshold of fibre damage through increasing the spectral width of the laser radiation. The SBS threshold energies of step-index and gradient-index fibres are measured for various fibre and laser parameters.     

A new method for measuring the threshold of stimulated Brillouin scattering

A new method for measuring the threshold of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) based on the generation location of a Stokes beam is proposed for the first time to our knowledge. The length of the medium cell is selected to be longer than the free gain length of pump pulses in the Brillouin medium. The reflected light from a certain mirror in front of the medium cell is chosen as the reference beam, and the SBS threshold is measured by the "jump" of the delay between the Stokes beam and the reference beam. An 8-ns Q-switched single-longitudinal-mode pulse is used as the pump and the typical SBS medium FC-72 is selected as the nonlinear medium in our experiment. The SBS threshold intensity is measured to be 173-178 mW/cm 2 , which is consistent with existing results measured with the transmitted energy limiting method.     

Theoretical analysis of a Brillouin switch for amplifier decoupling and prepulse suppression in short-pulse high-power laser systems

A switch suited for high-power amplifier chains emitting nanosecond pulses is theoretically investigated. It is based on a two-step Brillouin backscattering process. Gases like N₂ or SF₆ at high pressure are used as the scattering medium. The transmission efficiency is about 50%. The limitation is mainly due to gas breakdown. The capability for amplifier decoupling and prepulse suppression is excellent. Strong pulse steepening favors the generation of ultra-short laser pulses.     

变温条件下受激布里渊散射增益系数的实验测量

从理论及实验上分析了介质温度对受激布里渊散射(stimulated Brillouin scattering, SBS)阈值及增益系数的影响.在理论分析的基础上, 提出了一种通过测量SBS阈值来决定介质SBS增益系数的新方法. 实验及测量结果表明, SBS增益系数会随着介质温度的增加而呈现指数上升的趋势. 关键词： 受激布里渊散射 阈值 增益系数     

选用混合介质优化介质和控制受激布里渊散射特性的研究

本文提出了选用混合介质优化介质和控制其SBS特性的方案.分析了全氟碳化合物系列液体介质具有良好互溶性的缘故,数值模拟了HT-230/FC-72混合介质的增益系数、声子寿命和布里渊频移随混合比的变化曲线.在Countinuum Nd:YAG种子注入激光系统中测定了HT-230/FC-72混合介质的吸收系数和光学击穿阈值随混合比的变化,并实验研究了混合介质的能量反射率和Stokes光脉冲波形随混合比的变化.通过选用混合介质不仅优化介质,而且在一定范围之内可控制其SBS特性. 关键词： 受激布里渊散射 混合介质 优化介质 控制SBS特性     

A mirror based on stimulated brillouin scattering with a double feedback loop in a laser cavity

The possibility of switching an external mirror based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) with a double feedback loop to a laser cavity is shown experimentally. A significant increase in the output laser power is obtained with conservation of the diffraction quality of the initial radiation. Experimental comparison with an ordinary SBS mirror, excited in a single pass through a nonlinear medium, is performed and the advantage in the energy parameters of the scheme with a double feedback loop is shown. The threshold characteristics of the SBS mirror under study are calculated and good agreement with the experimental data is obtained.