Broadband and rapid tuning of an all-solid-state single-frequency Nd:YVO4 laser

A diode-pumped tunable single-frequency Nd:YVO₄ laser has been built. The laser incorporates a LiNbO₃ etalon (LE) as a coarse tuning element and a LiNbO₃ crystal (LC) as a fine tuning element to obtain broadband, rapid tuning. More than 480 mW of output power has been obtained from the tunable laser with frequency tuning range of 17.2 GHz and the tuning response time of 10 ns. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Da; 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Pk     

LD泵浦环形单频Nd:YVO4激光器的频率调谐特性研究

利用激光谐振腔内标准具的选模调谐特性和激光晶体自身的标准具作用,通过调节插入标准具和激光晶体的倾斜度及微调谐振腔长度,在LD泵浦Nd:YVO₄单频激光器上实现了精确调谐,最大可调谐范围约100GHz.     

Diode-pumped Tm:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> lasers with double etalons

Diode end-pumped single-frequency Tm:GdVO₄ laser at room temperature was reported. The maximal output power of single-frequency is as high as 51 mW by using two uncoated fused YAG etalons, which are respectively 0.05 mm thick and 1 mm thick. We obtained the single frequency Tm:GdVO₄ laser at 1919.7 nm. The slope efficiency is 1.4%. The single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) laser can be used as a seed laser for coherent wind measurements and differential absorption LIDAR systems.     

Room temperature diode-pumped 1875.1 nm Tm:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> laser

A diode end-pumped single-frequency Tm:GdVO₄ laser at room temperature was reported. The maximal output power of single-frequency is as high as 66 mW by using two uncoated fused etalons, which are respectively 0.05 mm thick YAG and 1 mm thick quartz. We obtained the single frequency Tm:GdVO₄ laser at 1875.1 nm. The slope efficiency is 1.5%. The change of the lasing wavelength on temperature was also measured. The single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) laser can be used as a seed laser for coherent wind measurements and differential absorption LIDAR systems.     

Frequency stabilization of a single-frequency volume Bragg grating-based short-cavity Tm:Ho:YLF laser to a CO2 line at 2.06?μm

This study presents a 2.06???m single-frequency tunable volume Bragg grating (VBG)-based short-cavity Tm:Ho:YLF laser. A mode-hop-free tuning range of 10?GHz at a few hundred mW output power was achieved. The first-derivative spectrum of the CO₂ 20013??00001 R(4) absorption line with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 1,000/Hz^1/2 was obtained using frequency modulation and fluorescence detection. The laser frequency can be stabilized to the CO₂ line with a stability of 3?×?10^?9.     

Tunable single-frequency operation of a diode-pumped vertical external-cavity laser at the cesium D<Subscript>2</Subscript> line

We report on a diode-pumped vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser emitting around 852 nm for Cesium atomic clocks experiments. We have designed a 7-quantum-well semiconductor structure optimized for low laser threshold. An output power of 330 mW was achieved for 1.1 W of incident pump power. Furthermore, a compact setup was built for low-power single-frequency emission. We obtained an output power of 17 mW in a single longitudinal mode, exhibiting both broad (9 nm) and continuous (14 GHz) tunability around the Cesium D₂ line. The laser frequency has been stabilized on an atomic transition with residual frequency fluctuations ∼300 kHz. Through a beatnote experiment the −3 dB laser linewidth has been measured to <500 kHz over 10 ms.     

diode-pumped single-frequency Tm:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> laser at 1897.6 nm

A diode end-pumped Tm:GdVO₄ laser at room temperature is reported. The maximal output power of single-frequency is as high as 34 mW by using two uncoated fused etalons, which are respectively 0.05 mm thick YAG and 1mm thick quartz. We obtained the single frequency Tm:GdVO₄ laser at 1897.6 nm with the slope efficiency of 1.3%. The single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) laser can be used as a seed laser for coherent wind measurements and differential absorption LIDAR systems.     

A High-Power,Long-Wavelength Infrared ZnGeP<Subscript>2</Subscript> Opo Pumped by a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>-Switched Tm,Ho:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Laser

We report a high-power, long-wavelength infrared ZnGeP₂ (ZGP) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a Q-switched Tm,Ho:GdVO₄ laser. The wavelength tuning range of 7.8–9.9 μm is realized by rotating the external angle of the ZGP crystal. We obtain an output power over 30 mW across the whole wavelength range and achieve a 1.71 W output power at 8.08 μm by transmitting the OPO parameters, corresponding to an idler laser slope efficiency of 12.1%.     

Single-frequency 1.25 W monolithic lasers at 1123 nm

Experimental investigation ofd Nd:YAG monolithic nonplanar ring lasers operated at 1123 nm wavelength is presented. Stable single-frequency 1123 nm laser output has been obtained with successful suppression of the strong 1064 nm radiation. Single-frequency output power of 1.25 W is demonstrated with a pump power of 3.98 W at 808 nm, which gives a slope efficiency of 39%. The laser frequency tuning range is over 3 GHz, and the average tuning rate with temperature is -2.6 GHz/ degrees C. A strong iodine absorption line can be covered within the laser frequency tuning range.     

High-power 10-GHz self-mode-locked Nd:LuVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> laser

We report on a high-power diode-end-pumped self-mode-locked Nd:LuVO₄ laser with the pulse repetition rate up to 9.52 GHz for the first time. The large third-order nonlinearity of the Nd:LuVO₄ crystal is exploited to efficiently achieve a fairly stable self-mode-locked operation without any additional components. The detailed characteristics of the compact efficient self-mode-locked laser are experimentally investigated and theoretically analyzed. With the incident pump power of 2.6 W, the average output power up to 0.54 W is generated with the pulse width of 7.9 ps at the pulse repetition rate of 9.52 GHz.     

Axial mode tuning of a single frequency Yb:YAG thin disk laser

We describe an arrangement for an Yb:YAG thin disk laser, which enables narrow bandwidth operation in single-frequency mode at freely selectable wavelengths within the broad tuning range of the laser. This is facilitated by a combination of a double-stage birefringent filter and an etalon inside the laser cavity. We investigate the wavelength selection characteristics of the single elements as well as their combination. A simple procedure is implemented for a computer-based automation of wavelength tuning. The reflectivity of the partially reflecting resonator mirror is optimised, and the laser pump power is adapted for best tuning performance. Single-frequency emission is achieved in a frequency range of 9.75 THz (wavelength range 1020 nm to 1055 nm). Each axial laser mode in this range can be selected individually. The axial mode separation of 0.47 GHz corresponds to wavelength steps of 1.7 pm at 1030 nm. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Lh     

Tunable single-frequency CW Cr<Superscript>2+</Superscript>:CdSe laser

Continuous tuning of the lasing wavelength from 2350 to 3450 nm in the cw Cr²⁺:CdSe laser is demonstrated. It is shown that the laser efficiently operates at a wavelength of 3.28 μm, which is promising for the methane optical frequency standard. The single-frequency mode of the laser with a lasing linewidth not exceeding 60 MHz is implemented in this spectral range.     

Comparative spectroscopic and laser properties of Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-doped CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>, SrF<Subscript>2</Subscript> and BaF<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

We present the spectroscopic properties and room-temperature cw tunable laser operation of Yb³⁺-doped CaF₂, SrF₂ and BaF₂ single crystals grown and studied in the same conditions. Emission cross sections, lifetimes, laser thresholds, laser slope efficiencies and laser wavelength tuning ranges are compared. It appears that Yb³⁺-doped BaF₂ might be more promising for diode-pumped high power laser operation. PACS 42.55.Rz; 42.70.Hj     

High efficiency continuous-wave single-frequency Nd:YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> ring laser under diode pumping at 880 nm

An efficient single-frequency continuous-wave Nd:YVO₄ ring laser pumped at 880 nm is presented. With compact four-mirror ring cavity and optical isolator, we obtained an output power of 14.56 W at 1064 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 61.7% and an optical-to-optical efficiency of 58.4% with respect to the absorbed pump power. The stability of the output power was better than ±0.5% over two hours. At the same time, a beam quality factor of M ²≈1.2 was measured and the line width of the longitudinal mode was about 25 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest slope efficiency and optical-to-optical efficiency in single-frequency Nd:YVO₄ ring laser.     

Diode-pumped singly resonant continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator with wide continuous tuning of the near-infrared idler wave

We demonstrate wide, continuous tuning of the single-frequency idler wave of a cw singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO). The SRO consists of a periodically poled LiNbO(3) crystal for quasi-phase matching in a four-mirror signal-resonant ring cavity. The SRO, excited by 2.25 W of 924-nm radiation from an InGaAs diode laser, generates as much as 200 mW of single-frequency 2.1-mum idler radiation. We tune the idler frequency continuously within a range as large as 56 GHz by changing the wavelength of the diode pump laser. The versatility of this continuously tunable single-frequency infrared source is demonstrated by recording of N(2)O rovibrational absorption lines near 2.1 mum.     

Diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:GdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> laser with a GaAs saturable absorber mirror

We report on a diode end-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:GdVO₄ laser. By using a GaAs wafer simultaneously as the saturable absorber and the output coupler, stable continuous-wave mode locking was achieved. The pulse width was measured to be 18.9 picoseconds at a repetition rate of 370 MHz. The most remarkable property of the laser is that its repetition rate can be changed from 370 MHz to 3.348 GHz by simply changing the cavity length. An average output power of 3.46 W at a 3.348 GHz repetition rate was obtained with a 14 W pump power. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a passively mode-locked Nd:GdVO₄ laser using a GaAs wafer as the saturable absorber. PACS 42.55.Rz; 42.60.Fc; 42.55.Xi.     

500 nm continuous wave tunable single-frequency mid-IR light source for C-H spectroscopy

A computer controlled tunable mid-IR light source, based on single resonant difference frequency generation (DFG), is experimentally investigated. The DFG process is pumped by an external cavity tapered diode laser, tunable over a spectral range of 30 nm. Grating feedback to the single mode channel of the tapered diode narrows the spectrum and allows for tuning of the emitted spectrum in the range from 780 to 810 nm. The DFG process takes place intra-cavity in a high finesse diode pumped 1064 nm solid state Nd:YVO₄ laser cavity, using periodically poled LiNbO₃ as the nonlinear material. Based on this new approach, a tunable single-frequency output power exceeding 3 mW was obtained in the mid-IR tuning range from 2.9 to 3.4 ??m.     

Diode-pumped Nd:LuVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Nd:YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> laser at 492 nm with intracavity sum-frequency-mixing in LiB<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

We present for the first time a Nd:YVO₄ laser emitting at 1064 nm intracavity pumped by a 916 nm diode-pumped Nd:LuVO₄ laser. A 809 nm laser diode is used to pump the Nd:LuVO₄ crystal emitting at 916 nm, a Nd:YVO₄ laser crystal was pumped at 916 nm and lased at 1064 nm. Intracavity sum-frequency mixing at 916 and 1064 nm was then realized in a LiB₃O₆ (LBO) crystal to reach the blue range. We obtained a continuous-wave output power of 216 mW at 492 nm under 19.6 W of incident pump power at 809 nm.     

Non-critical phase-matched second harmonic generation in Gd<Subscript>x</Subscript>Y<Subscript>1-x</Subscript>COB

We have characterized non-critical phase-matching (NCPM) for both Type I and Type II second harmonic generation (SHG) in y-cut Gd_xY_1-xCOB using a nanosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The variation of the NCPM wavelength with temperature was investigated for different values of the compositional parameter x. Efficient SHG of 1064 nm was achieved by choosing the suitable compositional parameter x=0.28 and by tuning the temperature of the crystal to 52 °C. Using a 25-mm-long Gd_0.28Y_0.72COB crystal, conversion efficiencies of 41 and 43% were obtained respectively from a mode-locked Nd:YAG and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. PACS 42.25.Lc; 42.65.Ky; 42.70.Mp; 42.79.Nv     

高功率可调谐1064 nm准连续单频激光振荡-放大系统研究

研制了高功率可调谐1064 nm准连续单频激光振荡-放大系统.振荡级采用三镜环形行波腔型结构的Nd:YAG激光器,通过精确控制腔内标准具的温度改变标准具材质折射率和厚度实现了对激光波长的调谐,获得了13.2 W调谐范围为58 GHz的1064 nm准连续单频振荡光,其重复率为1 kHz,占空比为10%.经过由双Nd:YAG激光头串接构成的放大器对振荡光进行双程放大后激光最终输出功率为44 W,光束质量因子M²= 1.58. 关键词： 可调谐激光 单频激光 标准具 振荡-放大系统