Theory of high efficiency third harmonic generation of high power Nd-glass laser radiation

Overall energy efficiencies on the order of 80% are predicted for the conversion of 1.054 μm laser radiation to the third harmonic. A new tripling configuration is used in which the fundamental beam is incident upon the first of two KDP Type II crystals linearly polarized at an angle of tan^?1 1/√2 to the ordinary direction. This configuration is compared with alternative tripling schemes.     

高功率钕玻璃激光系统低时间相干光频率转换技术研究进展

低时间相干脉冲可有效提高激光与等离子相互作用中参量不稳定性的阈值,但高效频率转换难题是实现其工程应用瓶颈之一。系统分析了高功率激光驱动器已有的各类低时间相干脉冲频率转换技术的特性,并基于数值模拟和实验分析了部分掺氘DKDP晶体用于超辐射光倍频、三倍频的特性与工程应用可行性,结果表明掺氘17%左右DKDP晶体可以提高钕玻璃系统超辐射光的倍频效率,理论转换效率可达到约80%,10%梯度掺氘DKDP晶体则可实现5 THz带宽三倍频输出。     

A diode side-pumped YAG/Nd:YAG/YAG composite crystal laser

A diode-bar side-pumped YAG/Nd:YAG/YAG composite crystal laser is presented. A maximum output power of 18.4 W at 1.064 μm with a slop efficiency of 57% and an optical-optical conversion efficiency of 46% was obtained for a pump power of 40 W. Compared with a side-pumped conventional crystal laser in the same experimental conditions, the side-pumped composite crystal laser improved the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency by 12%. Experimental results indicate that a composite crystal can depress the thermal effects effectively and improve the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency easily in the diode side-pumped lasers. The composite crystal has great potential in high-power diode side-pumped lasers.     

LD侧面泵浦Nd∶YAG高重频电光调Q激光器

为了获得高效率3 m~5 m中红外激光输出,利用电光调Q晶体RbTiOPO4（RTP）,通过高重复频率驱动调Q同步技术和LD侧面泵浦技术,获得高重频窄脉宽1.06 m激光输出,泵浦非线性晶体周期极化钽酸锂（PPLT）进行频率变换,实现高功率3 m~5 m中红外激光输出。在电源输入电流20 A、调Q驱动频率10 kHz的条件下,获得15 W的1.06 m激光。利用该1.06 m激光泵浦PPLT获得最高功率为2.6 W的3.9 m中红外激光,1.06 m到3.9 m的转化效率为17.3%。实验结果表明:通过高重频电光调Q技术和LD侧面泵浦技术,可以实现高重频窄脉宽1.06 m偏振光输出,泵浦PPLT可获得高功率高效率3.9 m中红外激光输出。     

Influence of third-order nonlinear and phase variations on third harmonic generation

A theoretical analysis is presented for third-harmonic generation in KDP for type I/type II angle-detuning scheme of high-intensity laser to produce third harmonic radiation near 0.35 μm. The effects of the third-order nonlinearity and the phase variations on the frequency conversion have been discussed. The results shown that the third-order nonlinear interactions decreases the tripling efficiency, and increases of the modulate strength of the output intensity of 3ω radiation. However, adjusting the angular detuning can compensate effectively the effects of third-order nonlinearity. Furthermore, 3ω conversion efficiency will drop with the increase of the degree of phase variations, and the increase 3ω conversion efficiency can decrease the influence of third-order nonlinearity on the conversion of third harmonics.     

Frequency conversion of Nd:YAG laser radiation in RDA

Frequency doubling and tripling of a Nd:YAG laser has been studied in a rubidium dihydrogen arsenate (RDA) crystal. An overall power conversion efficiency of 34% and 12% has been obtained for doubling and tripling, respectively. Some comparison with rubidium dihydrogen phosphate (RDP) crystal is reported for the generation of the third-harmonic radiation at 3547 Å.     

光栅腔BBO光参量振荡器

报道０．５３２μｍ泵浦的光栅腔ＢＢＯ光参量振荡器的实验研究结果，在１．０２－１．０８μｍ可调谐范围内，其输出线宽小于１ｎｍ，参量转换效率为３．５％。     

大口径光束高效三倍频理论和实验研究

根据三颗耦合波方程,研究了基波与谱波能量比,晶体长度、功率密度、角失配量和匹配类型等诸因素对三倍频最大可获转换效率的影响.大口径光束三倍频实验结果与理论计算相一致.用类型IIKDP晶体三倍频,在中等功率密度下,获得了43%的能量转换效率.     

高功率TEA CO2激光器两波长激光切换输出技术

 以TEA CO₂激光器通常采用的平-凹光学稳定腔为基础,提出了一种新的波长选支方法——输出窗口镀膜选支方法。利用一台高平均功率TEA CO₂激光器进行了选支实验研究,结合现有光学镀膜技术,得到了中心波长为9.3 μm的激光单谱线输出,其单脉冲能量及平均功率与激光器原中心波长10.6 μm单谱线输出的相应参数基本相当。研究发现,以相同单脉冲能量激光照射热敏纸时,中心波长9.3 μm激光光斑与中心波长10.6 μm的明显不同。同时,还设计出两波长窗口密闭免调切换装置,在一台激光器上实现了10.6,9.3 μm两个中心波长激光同等功率水平的免调切换输出,切换位置误差小于5″,密封性能满足使用要求。     

10-W cladding-pumped fiber laser with single transverse mode output

A Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser is demonstrated with a measured power output of 10.6 W and a fundamental spatial mode. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency is 44% and the slope efficiency is 86% closed to quantum efficiency of optical conversion. In our laser system, a D-shape (340 μm/400 μm) inner cladding Yb-doped fiber is used as the gain material within the Fabry-Perot cavity. Multimode diode pump radiation is injected into the cladding through an end facet of the composite fiber.     

Low-threshold mid-IR MgO:PPLN optical parametric generation with high reflectivity mirror for signal wavelength

A low-threshold middle-infrared(mid-IR) MgO:PPLN optical parametric generation(OPG)pumped by a laser diode(LDl end-pumped Z-type Nd:YLF laser at 1047 nm is realized with high reflectivity(HR) mirror for signal.At repetition rate of 10 kHz,the OPG threshold of 50μJ has been achieved with HR mirror for signal.Compared with the threshold without mirror,the threshold decreases by 17%.Using HR mirror for pump at output side of crystal,the threshold of 40μJ is achieved.The 2.7-4.1μm continuous tunable output is produced with seven grating periods from 28.5 to 31.5μm and temperatures from 30 to 200℃.When the incident average pump power is 3 W.the OPG idler output power is 0.46 W at 3.26 μm,which corresponds to optical-to-optical conversion efficiency up to 15.3%.     

1.2 W中红外ZnGeP2光参量振荡器

报导了利用Tm,HoGdVO4激光器抽运双谐振ZnGeP2光参量振荡器实验研究.Tm(5%),Ho(0.5%)GdVO4晶体采用液氮制冷方式,工作在77 K温度条件下.以25 W波长为800 nm的光纤耦合激光二极管抽运,2 μm激光最大平均功率7 W,脉冲宽度小于30 ns, 脉冲重复频率5 kHz到20 kHz可调.非线性频率转换晶体ZnGeP2长15 mm,55?切割,OPO谐振腔为平平腔,腔长约25 mm.在5W的2 μm激光抽运下,脉冲重复频率10 kHz,实现了信号光3.7 μm及闲频光4.5 μm中红外激光输出,参量光脉冲宽度为15～17 ns,最大平均功率大于1.2 W,光-光转换效率为20%.测量参量光输出光束全宽度远场发散角4 mrad,光束质量M2因子小于3.     

Stimulated Raman conversion of radiation from a YAG:Nd laser with wavelengths of 1.319, 1.338, and 1.357 µm in a barium nitrate crystal

We have studied stimulated Raman (SRS) conversion to the first Stokes component of multimode (M₂ = 8) radiation from a YAG:Nd laser with lasing wavelengths of 1.319 μm, 1.338 μm, and 1.357 μm in a barium nitrate crystal. We have obtained pulses of converted radiation with energies up to 120 mJ. We have achieved conversion efficiencies greater than 40% for each of the three Raman laser wavelengths of 1.530 μm, 1.556 μm, and 1.582 μm with divergence of the beams of converted radiation close to the diffraction-limited value (M₂ < 1.5). __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 330–334, May–June, 2006.     

Spectral phase matching for highly efficient frequency tripling of short-pulse KrF laser radiation in argon

For the efficient frequency tripling of KrF laser radiation, argon is very well suited as a nonlinear medium since a near-three-photon resonance can be used, which enhances the nonlinear susceptibility. According to theoretical predictions a zero crossing of the dispersive phase mismatch for the frequency-tripling process allows nearly perfect phase matching at high densities for the central KrF laser wavelength at 248.5 nm. Experiments that demonstrate the associated spectral sensitivity of the phase matching were performed in a pulsed argon gas jet for controlled input spectra and by varying the particle density up to 6×10¹⁸ cm^-3. The experiments show good agreement with corresponding theoretical model calculations and explain the recently achieved high conversion efficiencies in frequency tripling of short-pulse KrF laser radiation. PACS 42.65.Ky     

高效率内腔式2 μm简并光学参量振荡器

报道了一种高效率的2 μm光学参量振荡器. 利用1.064 μm声光调Q Nd:YVO₄激光器抽运基于氧化镁掺杂周期性极化铌酸锂的内腔式光学参量振荡器, 在简并状态实现了稳定高效的2 μm激光输出. 当808 nm激光二极管抽运功率为20 W, Q开关工作频率为15 kHz时, 产生了平均功率为3.5 W、脉冲宽度为1.4 ns的2 μm激光, 光-光转换效率为17.5%, 斜效率为25%. 据我们所知, 该转换效率在2 μm波段内腔式光学参量振荡器中是最高的.     

Zig-Zag板条泵浦的2.12μm激光器

 为了实现窄脉宽、高峰值功率2.12 μm激光的稳定输出,设计了基于侧面泵浦Zig-Zag 板条产生1.06 μm基频光,进而泵浦KTP晶体通过II类相位匹配产生2.12 μm激光的光参量振荡实验。对外腔及内腔进行了实验研究,分别获得了1.53%和2.86%的电光转换效率。在20 Hz频率下内腔2.12 μm输出能量达到70 mJ以上,脉宽7 ns~9 ns。其中内腔实验中能量输出稳定度接近8%。     

Frequency tripling of convergent beam employing crystals tiling in large-aperture high-energy laser facilities

In inertial confinement fusion, ultraviolet laser damage of the fused silica lens is an important limiting factor for load capability of the laser driver. To solve this problem, a new configuration of frequency tripling is proposed in this paper. The frequency tripling crystal is placed on downstream of the focusing lens, thus sum frequency generation of fundamental frequency light and doubling frequency light occurs in the beam convergence path. The focusing lens is only irradiated by fundamental light and doubling frequency lights. Thus, its damage threshold will increase. LiB₃O₅ (LBO) crystals are employed as frequency tripling crystals for its larger acceptance angle and higher damage threshold than KDP/DKDP crystals’. With the limitation of acceptance angle and crystal growth size are taken into account, the tiling scheme of LBO crystals is proposed and designed optimally to adopt to the total convergence angle of 36.0 mrad. Theoretical results indicate that 3 LBO crystals titling with different cutting angles in θ direction can meet the phase matching condition. Compared with frequency tripling of parallel beam using one LBO crystal, 83.8% (93.1% with 5 LBO crystals tiling) of the frequency tripling conversion efficiency can be obtained employing this new configuration. The results of a principle experiment also support this scheme. By employing this new design, not only the load capacity of a laser driver will be significantly improved, but also the fused silica lens can be changed to K9 glass lens which has the mature technology and low cost.     

Multicrystal designs for efficient third-harmonic generation

Efficient frequency tripling of high-fluence, narrow-band laser pulses is routinely accomplished with a doubling crystal and a sum-frequency mixer. The addition of a second mixer can dramatically improve conversion efficiencies for the large bandwidths of interest for inertial confinement fusion. Designs that involve two doublers similarly offer a higher dynamic range of conversion efficiency versus intensity than the usual two-crystal design.     

Growth of high quality non-linear optical crystal zinc germanium phosphide for Mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator

ZnGeP₂ single crystals were grown from Vertical Bridgman method. High-quality near-stoichiometric ZnGeP₂ single crystals were obtained in the diameter of 30 mm and length of 120 mm. The results showed that after thermal annealing of the crystals the optical absorption coefficient was below 0.03 cm^?1 at 2.05 μm, and ～0.02 cm^?1 at 3–8 μm. The low absorption loss ZnGeP₂ samples with dimension of 6 × 6 × 18 mm³ were cut from the annealed ingots for 3–5 μm optical parametric oscillation (OPO) experiments. For OPO experiment, we obtained up to 8.7 W output in the 3–5 μm wavelength range (with signal of 3.80 μm and idler of 4.45 μm, respectively) pumped by a 16.3 W 2.05 μm Tm,Ho:GdVO₄ laser at pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz, which corresponded to a conversion efficiency of 53.4% and slope efficiency of 64.8%, respectively.     

Polarization enhancement of anti-Stokes emission in a para-H2 Raman laser

The effect of polarization can influence the frequency conversion and enhance the anti-Stokes emission in a rotational para-H₂ Raman laser. Stokes (16 μm) and anti-Stokes (7 μm) radiations were obtained from a line tunable CO₂ laser at 10 μm.