Injection locking of a diode laser locked to a Zeeman frequency stabilized laser oscillator

We describe the design and performance of an injection-locked diode laser locked to a stabilized, single frequency, unmodulated diode laser. The master oscillator is a grating-tuned, external cavity diode laser which is stabilized on a Doppler free alkali metal resonance transition frequency via Zeeman locking. The master oscillator frequency is shifted by an acousto-optic modulator, which provides optical isolation of the master oscillator laser while tuning of the acousto-optic modulation frequency can also provide frequency offset tuning. The slave laser is a free running diode which is injection-locked by a small fraction of the frequency shifted master oscillator light. Good long- and short-time frequency stability are observed for both the Zeeman-locked master oscillator and the injection-locked slave laser.     

遗传算法在激光器谐振腔优化设计中的应用

讨论了用遗传算法优化设计普通激光器谐振腔参量的方法.以典型的50 cm长的氦氖(He-Ne)激光器为例,进行了具体计算.结果表明:对于输出相同的激光功率,模拟优化的谐振腔参量与传统局域化设计(非优化)的结果基本一致.通过适当匹配谐振腔参量,仍可提高激光(单模)的输出功率.     

Model of lock-in in a ring laser and a semiconductor laser gyro

It is assumed that the process of lock-in in a ring laser has a finite transient time. This assumption serves as a basis for developing a semiconductor laser gyro. A semiconductor optical amplifier is applied as an amplifying medium, and a ring resonator represents a long optical fiber. The injection of an external single-frequency light into a ring resonator with subsequent circulation of counterpropagating waves is used. The light characteristics of the semiconductor laser gyro are discussed, and the rotation sensitivity of the gyro is demonstrated.     

Short-laser-pulse-driven emission of energetic ions into a solid target from a surface layer spalled by a laser prepulse

An efficient emission of picosecond bunches of energetic protons and carbon ions from a thin layer spalled from a organic solid by a laser prepulse is demonstrated numerically. We combine the molecular dynamics technique and multi-component collisional particle-in-cell method with plasma ionization to simulate the laser spallation and ejection of a thin (∼20–30 nm) solid layer from an organic target and its further interaction with an intense femtosecond laser pulse. In spite of its small thickness, a layer produced by laser spallation efficiently absorbs ultrashort laser pulses with the generation of hot electrons that convert their energy to ion energy. The efficiency of the conversion of the laser energy to ions can be as high as 20%, and 10% to MeV ions. A transient electrostatic field created between the layer and surface of the target is up to 10 GV/cm. Received: 13 March 2001 / Accepted: 20 March 2001 / Published online: 20 June 2001     

Cavity Q switching in a solid-state laser with the use of a self-generated holographic feedback

The parameters of a self-starting Nd:YAG laser with an electrooptic shutter have been studied experimentally, and the possibility of applying this laser to pump an optical parametric oscillator has been analyzed. Spatial and frequency selection in the self-starting laser is shown to be important.     

Study of a line width estimation model for laser micro material processing using a photodiode

Estimation of the line width for a laser marking on the silicon wafer is very important to improve the productivity of the final product which use nonpackaged chip. Until now, only theoretical and numerical estimation models have been studied. However, it is not easy for these models to apply to real systems. In this study, a process monitoring system was used to develop an estimation model for the laser marking width. The plasma produced by interaction between the laser and the wafer was measured using an optical sensor. For each laser power setting, the correlation between the signal acquired from the optical sensor and the resulting line width was analyzed. Estimation models were developed for laser marking width through statistical regression analysis and an artificial neural network algorithm.     

Acoustic field excited by a pulsed laser line source in a cylinder

The excitation and propagation of the acoustic waves in an elastic cylinder are studied by laser ultrasonics both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical analysis of the two-dimensional acoustic field excited by a pulsed laser line source impacting on the generatrix of an elastic cylinder is presented. The dispersive properties for both cylindrical Rayleigh wave and the higher modes--whispering gallery (WG) modes are analyzed in detail. The numerical transient displacement waveforms for a detecting point located another terminal of the cylinder diameter opposite the source are calculated. The experimental excitation and detection of the acoustic waves in an aluminum cylinder are carried out on a laser ultrasonic system, which mainly consists of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and a laser interferometer. The wave components of bulk waves and surface waves (cylindrical Rayleigh waves and WG modes) are analyzed by comparing the numerical and experimental waveforms. The results are in good agreement.     

Growth of a Gaussian Laser Ripple on a Gaussian Beam in a Collisionless Magnetoplasma and its Effect on the Excitation of Ion-Acoustic Wave

This paper presents an investigation of the growth of a radially symmetrical ripple, superimposed on a Gaussian laser beam in a collisionless magnetoplasma. Here we have presented the effect of magnetic field and the intensity of the laser beam on the growth of ripple in some detail. The effect of presence of ripple on the excitation of an ion-acoustic wave is also investigated. Coupling of a weak ion-acoustic wave with main laser beam is through modified background density. Interesting feature of the analysis is that the combined effect of increased intensity of the laser beam and magnetic field is observed to suppress the growth of the ripple as well as the excitation of the ion-acoustic wave.     

Contactless Transfer of an Angular Momentum to a Liquid Layer Using a Scanning Laser Beam

The contactless transfer of an angular momentum to a liquid layer using a scanning laser beam has been experimentally investigated. This effect is observed for a glassy carbon target placed in water and irradiated by a pulsed laser beam, scanning the target along a closed trajectory. The target rotates in the same direction as the laser beam if the water layer is thin and in the opposite direction in the case of thick water layer. The possibility of transferring an angular momentum to liquid in the absence of target is demonstrated. The effect observed is interpreted as the result of joint action of convective flows and thermocapillary convection, which are induced in the liquid by laser heating.     

Dynamics of a random laser above threshold

We have performed enhanced backscattering experiments in a high gain random laser, under circumstances where a stationary theory predicts the laser intensity to diverge. Above the laser threshold the observed backscatter cone changes only gradually, not showing any signs of the divergence. We present measurements and theory-generalized laser equations with a diffusive transport term for pump and laser light-to explain the observed behavior. The population dynamics prevent an indefinite growth of the intensity. Time dependence is essential for a theory of random lasers above the laser threshold.     

Dual-wavelength bandwidth-narrowed output of a high-power diode laser using a simple external cavity

Using an external cavity consisting of an etalon and a mirror, dual-wavelength operation of a high-power broad-area multi-stripe diode laser is achieved. The reflection of the etalon is used as the output beam of the system. The free-running bandwidth of the laser diode is about 2.0 nm. At dual-wavelength operation, the bandwidth of each wavelength component is narrowed to about 0.07 nm, while the space between them is 1.65 nm, determined by the FSR of the etalon. We obtain an available dual-wavelength output power of 2.0 W at the drive current of 6.5 A. The power ratio of the components at two different wavelengths can be changed by changing the temperature of the diode laser. To tune the wavelength of the dual-wavelength output, the temperature of the laser diode and the tilt angle of the etalon are changed simultaneously PACS 42.55.Px; 42.60.Fc; 42.60.Da     

Laser shaping of a relativistic intense, short Gaussian pulse by a plasma lens

By 3D particle-in-cell simulation and analysis, we propose a plasma lens to make high intensity, high contrast laser pulses with a steep front. When an intense, short Gaussian laser pulse of circular polarization propagates in near-critical plasma, it drives strong currents of relativistic electrons which magnetize the plasma. Three pulse shaping effects are synchronously observed when the laser passes through the plasma lens. The laser intensity is increased by more than 1 order of magnitude while the initial Gaussian profile undergoes self-modulation longitudinally and develops a steep front. Meanwhile, a nonrelativistic prepulse can be absorbed by the overcritical plasma lens, which can improve the laser contrast without affecting laser shaping of the main pulse. If the plasma skin length is properly chosen and kept fixed, the plasma lens can be used for varied laser intensity above 10(19) W/cm(2).     

Nonlinear interaction of a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave with a dense laser plasma

The interaction of an intense circularly polarized laser pulse with a layer of plasma of supercritical density is studied. The nonlinear skin effect for the electromagnetic field and the coefficient of collisionless absorption of the laser pulse were calculated analytically. It is shown that, in the process of interaction with the plasma, the laser pulse generates solitons propagating through the plasma layer and transferring the radiation through the opaque medium. The coefficient of transparency of the plasma layer for the soliton-like penetration of the laser radiation was calculated. The plasma parameters at which the collisionless absorption is small as compared to the transformation of the laser energy into solitons were found.     

Growth of a laser ripple in a magnetoplasma and its effect on plasma wave excitation

Summary This paper presents an investigation of the growth of a radially symmetrical ripple, superimposed on a Gaussian laser beam in a collisionless magnetoplasma. The effect of the magnetic field and the intensity of the laser on the growth of the ripple is presented in some detail. The effect of the presence of the ripple on the excitation of an electron plasma wave is also investigated. Coupling of a weak plasma wave with the main laser beam is through the modified background density. The combined effect of increased intensity of the laser beam and magnetic field is observed to suppress the growth of the ripple as well as the excitation of the plasma wave. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

An intermittent frequency offset lock of a transverse Zeeman laser to an iodine stabilized He-Ne laser

A single-mode frequency stabilized laser with modulation-free and moderate power is desired as a light source for an ultra-high resolution interferometer system and/or a rapid laser calibration system. For this purpose, we developed a new stabilized laser system that utilizes intermittent control of a 2 mW transverse Zeeman stabilized He-Ne laser (Zeeman laser) with an iodine stabilized He-Ne laser (I2 stabilized laser). Because of the intermittent control, working time of the I2 stabilized laser is reduced. The Zeeman laser has two operational modes: independent and slave mode. In the independent mode, the Zeeman laser is stabilized through control of Zeeman beat frequency. Temperature dependent drift of the oscillation frequency during the independent mode is periodically corrected by the slave operation utilizing frequency offset locking to the I2 stabilized laser. Frequency instability of the Zeeman laser in independent and slave modes is 7.7X10-11 and 2.0X10-11, respectively, at the sampling time of 100 s.     

Broad band frequency tuning of a He-Xe laser with a superconducting solenoid

A magnetic field of up to 70 kOe produced by a superconducting solenoid is applied to the 3.5 μm He-Xe laser oscillator along its axial direction. The laser frequency is then tuned to an extent of ±105 GHz. The tuning coverage of 7 cm⁻¹ achieved here is more than ten times broader than that of any existing atomic gas laser. The laser tube is so designed as to stabilize the electric discharge in the magnetic field. The small irregularity of the frequency tuning characteristics is reduced by the use of enriched xenon-136 isotope in the He-Xe laser. We describe the design of the apparatus and the performance of the magnetically tunable laser with a broad tuning range.     

Periodic adjustment of the position of a laser beam spot on a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror in a passively mode-locked solid-state laser

A laser diode end-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:YVO₄ solid-state laser with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), in which the intracavity laser beam spot on the SESAM can be adjusted periodically, is investigated. Inserting a rectangular prism (RP) into the laser cavity is a promising approach towards the goal of periodically moving the position of the focus spot of the intracavity pulse on the SESAM surface to avoid the long-time irradiation of the laser beam on the same position, thereby solving a series of problems caused by damage to the SESAM and greatly prolonging its usage life. The adjustment of the rectangular prism in the laser cavity does not break the stable continuous wave (CW) mode-locked condition. The laser generates a stable picosecond pulse sequence at 1064 nm with an output power of 3.6 W and a pulse width of 14 ps. The instabilities of the output power and the pulse width are 1.77% and 4.5%, respectively.     

Amplification of enhanced backscattering from a dye-doped polymer bounded by a rough surface

We report the experimental study of the enhanced backscattering from a random rough surface through a laser dye-doped polymer. The sample is a slice of pyrromethene-doped polymer coupled with a two-dimensional rough gold layer with a large slope. When the sample is illuminated with an s-polarized He-Ne laser and pumped by a cw argon-ion laser, amplified backscattering is observed. The enhanced backscattering peak increases sharply and its width narrows for a sample with low dielectric constant |?(2)|.     

Control of instability in a semiconductor laser using a functional pump current generator with a dynamical parameter

In this paper, an electric circuit to control the dynamic output of a semiconductor laser is introduced. The circuit controls chaos and instability of the laser output by changing its pumping current. The change of the current is also introduced by a nonlinear map. The most important element of this nonlinear map is a dynamical variable parameter. We have studied the dynamic behavior of the laser before and after applying the control using bifurcation curves and time series. We have shown that the laser output, in the intervals of the feedback phase and strength where it is chaotic, can be totally inverted to the quasi periodic (QP) and period one (P1) oscillation modes, by control method.     

Quantum electrodynamics in a laser and the electron laser collision

Quantum electrodynamics in a laser is formulated, in which the electron–laser interaction is exactly considered, while the interaction of an electron and a single photon is considered by perturbation. The formulation is applied to the electron– laser collisions. The effect of coherence between photons in the laser is therefore fully considered in these collisions. The possibility of γ-ray laser generation by use of this kind of collision is discussed.