A compact fir ring laser with open resonator and variable output coupling

We describe the design, construction and first experimental results with an open triangle FIR ring resonator with Michelson interferometer output coupling, which we combined with a Brewster-windowless 10W CO₂ pump laser to a compact laser package of 1m length. The achieved stability of power and frequency of this system is very high, typically on the order of ±0.01% over several hours and <20kHz per hour at 800GHz. For the design, we investigated the balance of all laser processes and determined the optimum dimensions for the open resonator cavity. This analysis is based on a radially homogenous overall laser model, including commonly accepted simplified rate equations together with molecular parameters for weak FIR laser lines. In accordance with the modelling the efficiency on the very most prominent lines is better than with conventional waveguide lasers, giving up to 4 times better efficiencies especially on lines with low absorption pump transitions. Several laser lines, however, have substantially enhanced pump thresholds on purely copropagating emission, suppressing laser operation below about 10W pump power threshold. We show that this can not be due to effects from the interferometer.     

Acoustooptic extension of the frequency tunability of CW CO2 lasers: New FIR lasers emissions from CH3OH and13CH3OH

We have increased the frequency tunability of our CW waveguide CO₂ lasers by means of an acoustooptic amplitude modulator, operating at the fixed frequency of 90 MHz. The up-shifted, or down-shifted, laser optical sideband can be generated independently by adjusting the orientation of the modulator. The efficiency is larger than 50%. The frequency tunability of the CO₂ laser around each laser line is thus increased by 180 MHz. To demonstrate the possibilities of this method, a source composed of the above modulator and of a CW, 300 MHz tunable waveguide CO₂ laser has been used for the search of new large offset FIR laser lines from optically pumped CH₃OH and¹³CH₃OH molecules. As a result 15 and 10 new large offset laser lines were discovered respectively. New assignments of some laser lines are also proposed. We have also measured the Stark effect, the offset, and the polarization of other already known lines. In particular a Stark effect frequency tuning of about 1 GHz is demonstrated for a laser line at 208.399 m.     

The CO fundamental-band laser as secondary frequency standard at 5 µm

We present a very high-resolution heterodyne spectrometer based on a CO laser which operates down to fundamental-band transitions of the molecule. This allows us to detect saturated absorption signals on these transitions at very low pressure (0.4 Pa) and laser intensity (< 1 mW/cm²), yielding a linewidth of about 250 kHz. With the CO fundamental-band laser stabilized to these saturation signals we have measured the transition frequencies of the fundamental bands of three isotopic species to an accuracy of typically 20 kHz (v/v 3 × 10^–10), referenced to the CO₂ frequency standard. Together with additional frequency measurements of the first hot bands, these provide the first heterodyne frequency data of sub-Doppler accuracy for transitions in low lying bands of CO. They now represent the most accurate secondary frequency standard in the spectral region around 5 µm (60 THz).     

Applications of high resolution spectroscopy to the identification of far-infrared laser emission from optically pumped13CH3OH

High-resolution infrared (IR) and far infrared (FIR) Fourier transform absorption spectra have been employed to investigate assignments of FIR laser lines reported from optically-pumped¹³CH₃OH. The spectroscopic measurements are used in conjunction with the reported IR pump and FIR laser frequencies to form closed combination loops for several systems, serving to confirm the assignments and in some cases to improve the accuracy of the FIR laser frequencies. Frequency predictions from combination differences are also presented for a number of potential new FIR laser lines.     

Kilohertz high power extracavity KGW yellow raman lasers based on pulse LD side-pumped ceramic Nd: YAG

We report an efficient operation of a kilohertz nanosecond extracavity KGd(WO₄)₂ (KGW) crystal Raman yellow laser, which is pumped by a 532 nm lasers based on pulse laser diode (LD) side-pumped ceramic Nd: YAG, BBO electro-optical Q-switched and LBO crystal extracavity frequency doubling. With the 5 W, 10 ns and 1 kHz output power pumped at 532 nm, we obtained 2.58 W, 7.4 ns, 1 kHz second Stokes Raman laser output at 579.54 nm for 768 cm⁻¹ Raman shift of KGW crystal, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 51.4%. By changing the KGW crystal orientation, we further obtained 3.18 W, 7.8 ns, 1 kHz Raman pulses at 588.33 nm for 901 cm⁻¹ Raman shift, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 63.3%. The beam quality factors M² of 579.54 and 588.33 nm were (M _x−579.54² = 5.829, M _y−579.54² = 6.336) and (M _x−588.33² = 6.405, M _y−588.33² = 6.895), respectively.     

Simultaneous generation of violet,blue, and green lasers using Nd:YAl3(BO3)4 channel waveguides under pumping at 815 nm

Violet, blue, and green lasers were simultaneously generated by nonlinear processes using ultrafast laser inscribed neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminum borate (Nd:YAl₃(BO₃)₄ or Nd:YAB) channel waveguides under pumping at 815 nm. These visible lasers were generated by the frequency doubling, self‐frequency summing, and self‐frequency doubling processes based on a 1062 nm laser radiation that corresponded to the ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_11/2 transition of Nd³⁺ ions. Further, the wavelength tunability for the violet and blue lasers was achieved by simply tuning the pump wavelength within the ⁴I_9/2 → ⁴F_5/2 transition. The results obtained indicate that Nd:YAB waveguides are promising candidates for efficient compact visible laser sources. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Absolute frequency measurement of the iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser at 633 nm

The absolute frequency of an iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser at 633 nm stabilized on the i (or a₁₃) component of the 11-5 R(127) hyperfine transition of the ¹²⁷I₂ molecule is measured using a femtosecond optical comb generator and an iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser standard at 1064 nm. We link the measured absolute frequency to the current internationally adopted value via frequency intercomparison between JILA and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), leading to the determination of the absolute frequency of the BIPM-4 standard laser. The resulting absolute frequency f_i(BIPM) of the BIPM-4 standard laser is f_i(BIPM)=473612214711.9±2.0 kHz, which is 6.9 kHz higher than the value adopted by the Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM) in 1997. Received: 29 May 2000 / Revised version: 13 September 2000 / Published online: 22 November 2000     

Precise measurement of the frequency separation between the F(2)2 and the E lines in methane

The methane E line at 2947.811 cm^-1 has been observed by the saturated absorption technique using a Zeeman shifted 3.39 μm He-Ne laser. The frequency separation between this line and the F(²)₂ line in methane, commonly used as an infrared frequency reference, is measured to be ν(F²₂) - ν(E) = 3032560 ± 5 kHz. It has been checked that the E line is free from power and Stark frequency shifts within our 5 kHz measurement precision.     

HCOOH high-resolution spectroscopy in the 9.18 μm region

We report on highly accurate absolute frequency measurement against a femtosecond frequency comb of six saturated absorption lines of formic acid (HCOOH) with an accuracy of 1 kHz. We also report the frequency measurement of 17 other lines with an accuracy of 2 kHz. Those lines are in quasi coincidence with the 9R(36) to 9R(42) CO₂ laser emission lines and are probed either by a CO₂ or a widely tunable quantum cascade laser phase locked to a master CO₂ laser. The stability of HCOOH stabilized lasers is characterized by a fractional Allan deviation of 3.1 × 10⁻¹² τ^−1/2. They give suitable frequency references for Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy.     

Infrared Optoacoustic Spectroscopy of 13CD3OD Around 9P CO2 Laser Lines

In this work we present the results of an investigation about Doppler limited infrared absorbing transitions of the in-plane methyl-rocking and the asymmetric methyl deformation modes of ¹³CD₃OD by means of optoacoustic detection. This is an alternative and attractive technique to be applied to this methanol isotopomer, in comparison to Fourier transform spectroscopy. In fact the contamination problem associated with the fast exchange of OD by OH in the molecule limits the use of the Fourier transform technique. Using a waveguide CO₂ laser of 290 MHz tunability on each line we were able to observe 20 IR absorptions, most of them of large offset. The data will be useful in theoretical analysis of this molecule, as well as in the generation of FIR laser radiation in optically pumped molecular laser.     

Growth and properties of KLu(WO4)2, and novel ytterbium and thulium lasers based on this monoclinic crystalline host

High‐quality crystals of monoclinic KLu(WO₄)₂, shortly KLuW, were grown with sizes sufficient for its characterization and substantial progress was achieved in the field of spectroscopy and laser operation with Yb³⁺‐ and Tm³⁺‐doping. We review the growth methodology for bulk KLuW and epitaxial layers, its structural, thermo‐mechanical, and optical properties, the Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺ spectroscopy, and present laser results obtained in several operational regimes both with Ti:sapphire and direct diode laser pumping using InGaAs and AlGaAs diodes near 980 and 800 nm, respectively. The slope efficiencies with respect to the absorbed pump power achieved with continuous‐wave (CW) bulk and epitaxial Yb:KLuW lasers under Ti:sapphire laser pumping were ≈ 57 and ≈ 66%, respectively. Output powers as high as 3.28 W were obtained with diode pumping in a simple two‐mirror cavity where the slope efficiency with respect to the incident pump power reached ≈ 78%. Passively Q‐switched laser operation of bulk Yb:KLuW was realized with a Cr:YAG saturable absorber resulting in oscillation at ≈ 1031 nm with a repetition rate of 28 kHz and simultaneous Raman conversion to ≈ 1138 nm with maximum energies of 32.4 and 14.4 μJ, respectively. The corresponding pulse durations were 1.41 and 0.71 ns. Passive mode‐locking by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) produced bandwidth‐limited pulses with duration of 81 fs (1046 nm, 95 MHz) and 114 fs (1030 nm, 101 MHz) for bulk and epitaxial Yb:KLuW lasers, respectively. Slope efficiency as high as 69% with respect to the absorbed power and an output power of 4 W at 1950 nm were achieved with a diode‐pumped Tm:KLuW laser. The slope efficiency reached with an epitaxial Tm:KLuW laser under Ti:sapphire laser pumping was 64 %. The tunability achieved with bulk and epitaxial Tm:KLuW lasers extended from 1800 to 1987 nm and from 1894 to 2039 nm, respectively.     

Infrared optoacoustic spectroscopy of13CD3OD around the 10R and 10P CO2 laser lines

In this work we present the results of an investigation about Doppler limited infrared absorbing transitions of the C-O stretching vibrational mode of¹³CD₃OD by means of optoacoustic detection. This technique is an alternative, more sensitive and of higher resolution than the Fourier transform spectroscopy which is applied to this methanol isotopomer, due to the contamination problem associated with the fast exchange of OD by OH in the molecule. Using a waveguide CO₂ laser of 290 MHz tunability on each line we were able to observe 69 absorptions, most of then of large offset. The data will be useful in theoretical analysis of this sample, as well as a guide in the search for new FIR laser lines.     

A rubidium-stabilized ring-cavity resonator for optical frequency metrology: precise measurement of the D1 line in 133Cs

We have developed a ring-cavity resonator that can be used to measure the absolute frequencies of optical transitions with an uncertainty below 40 kHz. The length of the resonator is calibrated against a reference laser locked to the D₂ line of ⁸⁷Rb, the frequency of which is known with 6 kHz accuracy. We demonstrate the power of this technique by measuring the absolute frequencies of various hyperfine transitions in the D₁ line of ¹³³Cs. Our results agree with earlier measurements using the frequency-comb technique, and have similar accuracy. Measurement of the D₁-line frequency could lead to a more precise determination of the fine-structure constant. We also report a precise value of A=291.918(8) MHz for the hyperfine constant in the 6P_1/2 state.     

Phase-matched electrooptic modulator at 84 GHz for blue light: Theory,experimental test and applications

We describe the theory and experimental realization of an ultrafast phase-matched electrooptic modulator, working with 486 nm light and a modulation frequency of 84 GHz. To achieve phase matching for arbitrarily high modulation frequencies the laser beam is guided with several internal total reflections along a zig-zag path through a LiTaO₃ crystal. The method was studied experimentally with a 84 GHz modulator and a highly stable 486 nm dye laser. The maximum modulation index of this setup was about 5.0%. Beat signals between either the first- or the second-order sidebands and another laser were observed. This modulator was used to directly measure the 671 GHz 1S–2S isotope shift of hydrogen and deuterium with radio-frequency accuracy.     

885 nm LD end-pumped 22.7 W high beam quality electro-optical Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

We report an 885 nm laser diode (LD) end-pumped high beam quality (M _x ² = 1.322, M _y ² = 1.235) electro-optical Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with TEM₀₀-mode output for the first time. At the absorbed pump power of 59.5 W, a 22.7 W 1064 nm laser was achieved at 10 kHz repetition rate with optical-to-optical efficiency of 38.1%. The maximum pulse energy and shortest pulse width were 5.1 mJ and 14.5 ns at 2 kHz repetition rate, and the calculated peak power was 352 kW.     

Assignment of laser lines in an optically pumped submillimeter and near millimeter laser: (H2CO)3

A large number of emissions is obtained in the submillimeter and near millimeter range with the (H₂CO)₃ laser optically pumped by a CO₂ laser. A study of the microwave absorption spectrum of the molecule carried out simultaneously with the submm analysis allows us to assign six of the laser lines in thev ₅ excited state of the molecule and to determine the rotational constants and vibrational energy ofv ₅.     

Generation of Transform-Limited Pulse Train in New Scheme of Harmonically Mode-Locked Er-Doped Fiber Ring Lasers

A new scheme of an amplitude modulated harmonically mode-locked Er-doped fiber ring laser is proposed, and the lasing characteristics are experimentally investigated. The transform-limited sech² pulses at the repetition frequency of 1.64 GHz are stably generated. The pulse width and spectral bandwidth are independent of both the amplitude modulated (AM) modulation signal frequency and the AM modulation depth.     

Very high resolution CO laser spectrometer and first sub-Doppler line-shape studies near 60 THz (5 μm)

2 laser standards. Using this technique, we can tune the CO laser frequency with absolute frequency control within the gain profile of each laser transition. The frequency uncertainty is smaller than 15 kHz, corresponding to Δν/ν=2.5×10^-10. Moreover, we obtain a reduction of the CO laser linewidth by a factor of 2 down to 65 kHz, corresponding to a spectral resolution of δν/ν=1×10^-9. With this outstanding accuracy and resolution we studied the shape of saturation dips in rovibrational lines of CO and carbonyl sulfide (OCS) at low pressure (<5 Pa). The self-pressure-broadening rate of CO was found to be γ_c=+83(7) kHz/Pa in this pressure region. This value is about four times higher than values resulting from previous measurements at much higher pressures. To our knowledge the measurements described here are the first line-shape studies with sub-Doppler resolution in the 5 μm spectral region. Received: 4 November 1996