Far-field timing effects with passively Q-switched lasers

Pulse-timing effects in the far field of a passively Q -switched microchip laser that are caused by the changing cavity mode during pulse emission are described. Measurements are performed on a passively Q -switched Nd:YAG laser that produces 3-ns pulses, and delays in pulse arrival times of up to ~270 ps are observed between the center and the off-axis position. The measured data agree well with a simple analytical model. Pulse delays of this order are important, for instance, in high-precision range-finding applications.     

Complete characterization of quantum-limited timing jitter in passively mode-locked fiber lasers

We characterize the timing jitter of passively mode-locked, femtosecond, erbium fiber lasers with unprecedented resolution, enabling the observation of quantum-origin timing jitter up to the Nyquist frequency. For a pair of nearly identical 79.4MHz dispersion-managed lasers with an output pulse energy of 450pJ, the high-frequency jitter was found to be 2.6fs [10kHz, 39.7MHz]. The results agree well with theoretical noise models over more than three decades, extending to the Nyquist frequency. It is also found that unexpected noise may occur if care is not taken in optimizing the mode-locked state.     

Independently tunable 1.3 W femtosecond Ti:sapphire lasers passively synchronized with attosecond timing jitter and ultrahigh robustness

A stable passively synchronized femtosecond laser has been realized by coupling two 1.3 W mode-locked Ti:sapphire lasers with a Kerr medium. An ultralong tolerance of 10 microm for the cavity length mismatch and a timing jitter of less than 0.4 fs were obtained. The relative carrier-envelope phase slip was directly observed by measuring the heterodyne output between the two lasers.     

Subfemtosecond timing jitter between two independent, actively synchronized, mode-locked lasers

With the implementation of a fast-bandwidth servo, along with improved laser construction and associated better passive stability, we have achieved subfemtosecond relative timing jitter between two independent, actively synchronized, mode-locked Ti:sapphire lasers. Timing jitter of 0.58 fs is obtained with a 160-Hz observation bandwidth over several seconds. Within a 2-MHz observation bandwidth, the timing jitter is 1.75 fs. Excellent repeatability and rapid speed in setting an arbitrary time delay between two pulses are also demonstrated.     

Investigation of passively synchronized dual-wavelength Q-switched lasers based on V:YAG saturable absorber

In this paper the results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of synchronized passive Q-switching of two Nd:YVO₄-based solid-state lasers operating at two different wavelengths, is described. A V:YAG saturable absorbing material was used as a passive Q-switch performing the synchronization of the two laser fields. This material provides Q-switching operation at both 1064 and 1342 nm wavelengths simultaneously, saturating the same energy level. By adjusting the pump power of both lasers, it was possible to optimize the overlap of the two pulse trains and to switch between different states of synchronization. A theoretical model based on rate equations, which has been developed in order to investigate optical performance of the laser system, is in a good agreement with the experimental results. The principle of synchronized Q-switching can lead to new, pulsed all-solid-state light sources at new wavelengths based on sum-frequency mixing processes.     

脉冲半导体激光器时基脉冲的实验对比测量

以脉冲半导体激光器为例，对3种测量激光脉冲时基抖动技术进行了对比实验。这3种测量技术分别是：基于宽带取样示波器的时基抖动测量技术;基于相位比较检相器的相位噪声测量技术和基于频谱仪的谐波频谱分析技术。对比研究发现：基于宽带取样示波器的时基抖动测量技术适用于脉冲宽带及脉冲抖动较大的光脉冲；基于频谱仪的谐波频谱分析技术适用于低重复频率光脉冲的抖动测量；基于相位比较检相器的相位噪声技术测量精度高、动态范围大、结果可靠，对于高重复频率的超短光脉冲，建议选用相位噪声测量技术测量激光脉冲的时基抖动。     

LD抽运被动调Q固体激光器的脉冲稳定性

报道了二极管激光抽运Cr,Nd∶YAG被动调Q Nd∶YVO4 1064 nm激光输出.为了提高被动调Q激光的输出稳定性,谐振腔采用长腔,增益介质位于谐振腔中间位置.实验中获得了稳定的被动调Q激光输出.在最高入射抽运功率为17.5 W时,脉冲重复频率达到71.3 kHz,脉冲宽度为0.4 μs.调Q脉冲幅度不稳定性低于±10%,脉冲时间波动性低于±3.5%.     

Continuous-wave and passively Q-switched Nd:LYSO lasers

Continuous-wave (CW) and passively Q-switched performance of a Nd-doped oyorthosilicate mixing crystal, (Nd_0.005Lu_0.4975Y_0.4975)₂SiO₅ (Nd:LYSO), were reported. As a result, new dual-wavelength all-solid-state lasers at 1075 and 1079 nm were achieved. When the absorbed pump power was 3.87 W, the CW laser produced 1.1 W output, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 28.4% and a slope efficiency of 32.4%. By using a Cr⁴⁺:YAG wafer as the saturable absorber, we achieved Q-switching operation of Nd:LYSO crystal. The maximal average output power, shortest pulse width, largest pulse energy and highest peak power were measured to be 294 mW, 27.5 ns, 34.3 μJ and 1.18 kW, respectively. By difference frequency, these dual-wavelength lasers have potential applications for the generation of a broadband coherent radiation from 0.7–1.3 THz.     

Continuous-wave and passively Q-switched cladding-pumped planar waveguide lasers

Greater than 12 W of average output power has been generated from a diode-pumped Yb:YAG cladding-pumped planar waveguide laser. The laser radiation developed is linearly polarized and diffraction limited in the guiding dimension. A slope efficiency of 0.5 W/W with a peak optical-optical conversion efficiency of 0.31 W/W is achieved. In a related structure, greater than 8 W of Q -switched average output power has been generated from a Nd:YAG cladding-pumped planar waveguide laser by incorporation of a Cr(4+): YAG passive Q switch monolithically into the waveguide structure. Pulse widths of 3 ns and pulse-repetition frequencies as high as 80 kHz have been demonstrated. A slope efficiency of 0.28 W/W with a peak optical-optical conversion efficiency of 0.21 W/W is achieved.     

Temporal criterion for single-frequency operation of passively Q-switched lasers

An analytical expression for the difference in buildup time between two longitudinal modes in a passively Q -switched laser resonator is developed and compared with experimental laser data. The results support the following temporal criterion for single-frequency, passively Q -switched operation: The difference in buildup time between any two longitudinal modes of the laser resonator should be comparable with or greater than the laser pulse duration to ensure single-frequency operation.     

Simultaneous achievement of narrow pulse width and low pulse-to-pulse timing jitter in 1.3 microm passively mode-locked quantum-dot lasers

We have analyzed pulse width and timing jitter in passively mode-locked two-section InAs quantum-dot lasers emitting at 1310 nm and have identified two distinct, extensive mode-locked regions with robust short pulses and low timing jitter. A record combination of 2 ps pulses and 25 fs/cycle timing jitter (500 fs, 1-100 MHz), with 1 mW average output power per facet, is demonstrated.     

Modelling of passively Q-switched lasers with intracavity Raman conversion

We present a model of passively Q-switched Raman lasers by utilizing the rate equations. The intracavity fun-damental photon density, Raman photon density and the initial population-inversion density of the gain medium are assumed to be of Gaussian spatial distributions. These rate equations are normalized by introducing some synthetic parameters and solved numerically, and a group of general curves are generated. Prom these curves we can understand the dependence of the Raman laser pulse characteristics on the parameters about the pumping, the gain medium, the Raman medium and the resonator. An illustrative calculation for a passively Q-switched Nd^3＋：GdVO4 self-Raman laser is presented to demonstrate the usage of the curves and related formulas.[第一段]     

Edge-pumped passively Q-switched thin Nd:YAG slab lasers

We report a high-power thin Nd：YAG slab laser with slab dimension of 1 × 10 ×60 （mm） partially edgepumped by diode laser arrays. Passive Q-switching is achieved with a Cr^4＋ ：YAG microchip adopted as the saturable absorber mirror. The pulse duration is around 10 ns while the pulse repetition rate is higher than 10 kHz. The average output power of 70 W is obtained with a slope efficiency of 36%. The diffraction limited beam quality in the thickness direction is obtained by controlling the pump beam diameter inside the slab. The laser head is very compact with size of only 60 × 74×150 （mm）.     

Edge-pumped passively Q-switched thin Nd: YAG slab lasers

We report a high-power thin Nd: YAG slab laser with slab dimension of 1×10×60(mm) partially edgepumped by diode laser arrays.Passive Q-switching is achieved with a Cr4 : YAG microchip adopted as the saturable absorber mirror.The pulse duration is around 10ns while the pulse repetition rate is higher than 10kHz.The average output power of 70W is obtained with a slope efficiency of 36%.The diffraction limited beam quality in the thickness direction is obtained by controlling the pump beam diameter inside the slab.The laser head is very compact with size of only 60×74×150(mm).     

Attosecond-resolution timing jitter characterization of free-running mode-locked lasers

Timing jitter characterization of optical pulse trains from free-running mode-locked lasers with attosecond resolution is demonstrated using balanced optical cross correlation in the timing detector and the timing delay configurations. In the timing detector configuration, the balanced cross correlation between two mode-locked lasers synchronized by a low-bandwidth phase-locked loop is used to measure the timing jitter spectral density outside the locking bandwidth. In addition, the timing delay configuration using a 325 m long timing-stabilized fiber link enables the characterization of timing jitter faster than the delay time. The limitation set by shot noise in this configuration is 2.2 x 10(-8) fs(2)/Hz corresponding to 470 as in 10 MHz bandwidth.     

Pulse interval jitter of a passively and actively acousto-optically Q-switched solid-state laser

We study the pulse interval jitter of a passively and actively acousto-optically Q-switched solidstate laser. Diffraction and birefringent acousto-optical cells are considered as active Q-switches. Analytical expressions for the pulse interval jitter of a solid-state laser are obtained. The possibilities of jitter reduction are examined.     

Reduction of the pulse repetition period jitter of a diode-pumped passively Q-switched solid-state laser

We obtain an analytical expression for the pulse repetition period jitter of a diode-pumped solidstate laser with passive Q-switching of the resonator. The possibilities of reducing the jitter of the pulse repetition period of generation are studied. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 337–342, April 2009.     

Impact of pulse dynamics on timing jitter in mode-locked fiber lasers

We investigate the high-frequency timing jitter spectral density of mode-locked fiber lasers in different mode-locked regimes. Quantum-noise-limited timing jitter spectra of mode-locked-regime-switchable Yb fiber lasers are measured up to the Nyquist frequency with sub-100-as resolution. The integrated rms timing jitter of soliton, stretched-pulse, and self-similar Yb fiber lasers is measured to be 1.8, 1.1, and 2.9 fs, respectively, when integrated from 10 kHz to 40 MHz. The distinct behavior of jitter spectral density related to pulse formation mechanisms is revealed experimentally for the first time.     

Control of the pulse duration in one- and two-axis passively Q-switched solid-state lasers

We study theoretically and experimentally different methods to control the pulses emitted by solid-state lasers passively Q-switched by a saturable absorber. We explore one- and two-axis laser schemes allowing to control the pulse duration, which is ruled by the saturation powers of the transitions in the absorber and in the gain medium. In one-axis lasers, it is shown that the adjustment of the pump and laser beam sizes in the active medium and in the absorber provides an efficient means to control the pulse temporal shape and duration. Furthermore, a two-axis laser cavity supporting so-called forked-eigenstate operation permits to freely adjust the parts of the mode power which circulate in the gain medium and in the absorber. In this case, a lengthening of the pulse duration up to 500 ns is obtained with an increase of the average output power. The theoretical results obtained by using rate equations adapted to each cavity geometry are in close agreement with experiments performed on a diode-pumped Nd³⁺:YAG laser Q-switched by a Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber. The relevance of the different techniques to control the pulse durations in the framework of potential applications is discussed. Received 3 December 2001     

Reduction of time jitter in a passively Q-switched and mode-locked ruby laser by a double-pulse technique

The onset of the picosecond pulse train in a passively Q-switched and modelocked solid state laser occurs with a considerable time jitter. A method has been devised which employs double-pulse pumping of the laser rod as a means to substantially reduce this jitter. With the ruby laser used, a reduction of more than twenty times, from 35 μsec to 1.5 μsec, was observed without altering the characteristics of the mode-locked pulse train or flash-lamp life. The synchronization of auxiliary equipment is thus made possible.