Standard and phase-matched grazing-incidence and distributed-feedback FIR gas lasers

In this paper we review theoretical and experimental studies on optically pumped 496 m CH₃F DFB lasers of different configurations, including grazing-incidence arrangement and phase matching by a gap in the periodic structure. These configurations combine the simple tuning mechanism of grazing-incidence systems with the high frequency selectivity of DFB. Our theoretical considerations based on coupled-wave theory are concerned with the dispersion relations and resonance conditions of standard and phase-matched DFB and grazing-incidence gas lasers. We have succeeded in calculating the relevant TM coupling coefficients for lasers with rectangular periodic waveguides. For laser cavities with various continuous gratings we have measured the resonant heights and tuning angles of the laser oscillations of first- and second-order DFB. We have found good agreement with theoretical resonance conditions. In order to improve the mode selectivity and to attain single longitudinal mode operation, which is a requirement for semiconductor lasers in many applications, we have introduced variable gaps in the center of the gratings. These provide phase matching and gap modes. We have compared the measured gap modes with our theory and found agreement in specific cases, where the phase-matched cavity implies single-mode laser operation. Our results on standard and phase-matched DFB cavities promise an improvement of the performance of phase-matched semiconductor lasers with respect to small bandwidth and optimized output power.     

Influence of end reflectivity on gain saturation in a planar distributed feedback laser

An approximate method for the analysis of planar-waveguide distributed-feedback lasers is extended to include a nonvanishing reflectivity at the ends of the structure. An index grating structure with parasitic losses is investigated. An expression for the small-signal gain coefficient ^0MN as a function of the output power P ^MNout normalized to the saturation power P ^s , coupling coefficient K, complex reflectivity R of end reflectors, and waveguide parameters is presented.     

Mode structure of hollow dielectric waveguide lasers

The mode structure of hollow dielectric waveguide lasers with free space sections and flat mirrors is studied theoretically and experimentally. The study covers the fundamental mode and the three most important higher order modes, and graphs are given which identify regions of high mode discrimination in the parameter space. Calculated coupling losses are verified experimentally by detailed studies of the output power of CO₂ lasers as a function of resonator geometry. The intensity profile inside and outside the resonator is calculated, and the profile outside the resonator is compared with experiments for the fundamental mode as well as for the higher order modes. It is shown that in general the fundamental mode is non-Gaussian, and that drastically different output characteristics are obtained for different choice of output plane. The paper identifies design criteria for obtaining single line and single mode oscillation over a wide tuning range, even in the densest region of the CO₂ laser line spectrum, and this is exemplified by a spectroscopic application.Supported by the Danish Science Research Councils under grants no. 5.17.4.6.19 and 5.17.4.1.23 and by FLS airloq     

Group theory and experiments on helical and linear distributed feedback gas lasers

This study puts forward the concept of helical distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. The basic features of this new type of laser are derived by group theoretical considerations on cylindrical, circular linear periodic, and helical waveguide and laser structures. It is demonstrated that not only linear periodic structures but also helical structures show Bragg and DFB effects. Microwave and far-infrared experiments on passive helical metal waveguides reveal Bragg resonances in transmission. These results initiated the first experimental realization of a helical DFB gas laser, i.e. an optically pumped 496m CH₃F laser with a helical metal waveguide of a pitch close to 250m. This helical DFB laser shows higher-mode selectivity than the corresponding linear DFB laser. Finally, we show that the concept of helical DFB also applies to dye lasers with internal DFB incorporated by a mixture of the dye with a cholesteric liquid crystal.On leave from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdansk, Poland     

Amplification and saturation in a CO2 waveguide amplifier

An ir CO₂, dc current pumped, optical waveguide (WG) amplifier has been built, and its active medium optical parameters measured for several CO₂ emission lines, and their dependence from active medium total pressure, discharge current and temperature was investigated.High gain is found which, coupled with relatively high saturation power in the WG fundamental mode and ease of fabrication with this technology in long (up to 1.5 m) lengths, indicates promising use to efficiently amplify high spectral and spatial purity output of a short, highly tunable WG laser up to power levels suited for nonlinear spectroscopy and optical pumping. The dependence of the small signal gain coefficient and of the saturation parameter for individual rotational lines on the radiation intensity was computed using experimentally known parameters of the discharge plasma. The computation was carried out using the two mode rate equation approach for CO₂–N₂–He gas mixtures. A satisfactory agreement between theoretical and experimental results was obtained.Work supported by G.N.S.M.-C.N.R. and M.P.I.     

Ultrashort pulse generation by distributed feedback dye lasers. II

The properties of distributed feedback dye lasers as novel sources for wavelength tunable ultrashort pulses in the visible and ultraviolet range are studied. Calculated and measured energy characteristics of the laser are in very good agreement. The shot-to-shot stability of the single ultrashort pulses has been measured to be ±7.1%.     

Ultrashort pulse generation by distributed feedback dye lasers. I

The N₂-laser pumped distributed feedback dye laser is a new type of picosecond light source. A rate equation model describing the ultrashort pulse formation is presented. The temporal behavior of the distributed feedback dye laser predicted by the model has been compared with experimental results obtained with a streak camera system. The observed good agreement allows application of the theoretical model for the engineering of an inexpensive picosecond laser     

Automatic impedance matching and opto-Hertzian effect in RF excited CO2 waveguide lasers

We report the successful operation of a novel automatic impedance matching technique (AIMing) and observations of the opto-Hertzian effect. The AIMing system is capable of maintaining efficient RF power delivery to a CO₂ waveguide laser over a wide range of operating conditions. The opto-Hertzian signal, produced by circulating laser power fluctuations and detected in the RF reflected power, has some interesting properties and may be used for laser frequency stabilisation.     

Ultrashort-pulse fiber ring lasers

Received: 18 February 1997/Revised version: 22 April 1997     

Multimode coupling and nonlinear-gain effects in distributed and helical feedback gas lasers

We present a detailed experimental and theoretical study on the waveguide modes of distributed feedback (DFB) and helical feedback (HFB) gas lasers including for the first time the experimental verification of multimode-coupling and nonlinear-gain phenomena. For this purpose we used oversized hollow metal waveguides with periodic or helical corrugations. The latter exhibit the symmetry of either the single helix or the double helix. For the interpretation of our observations we developed a coupled-wave theory extended to multi-mode coupling and adapted the nonlinear-gain approach for strong coupling by Haus. The experiments with DFB and HFB gas lasers give new relevant information on these phenomena.On leave from Academia Sinica, Beijing, People's Republic of China     

Compact mid-infrared trace gas sensor based on difference-frequency generation of two diode lasers in periodically poled LiNbO3

3 (PPLN) crystal pumped by two single-frequency diode lasers. A maximum DFG power of 1.6 μW at 3.6 μm was generated with a pump power of 61.4 mW at 832 nm and a signal power of 41.5 mW at 1083 nm incident on a 19-mm-long PPLN crystal, which corresponds to a conversion efficiency of 335 μW W^-2 cm^-1. Received: 16 June 1998     

Dynamics of lasers with two-dimensional distributed feedback

A model of a laser exploiting two-dimensional (2D) distributed feedback is developed. A new feedback mechanism can be realized using a dielectric structure with the width having double-periodical sinusoidal or chessboard modulation. It is shown that 2D Bragg resonator possesses high selectivity over both the longitudinal and the transverse indices. Within semi-classical approach nonlinear dynamics of 2D distributed feedback laser (DFL) is studied and spatial synchronization of radiation from extended active medium is demonstrated.     

Laser modes in organic solid-state distributed feedback lasers

We report on the laser modes in optically pumped solid-state lasers using an electroluminescent organic semiconductor as the active medium. Mechanically flexible distributed-feedback lasers are fabricated by depositing a thin film of an active material onto a nano-patterned polyester substrate either via spin-coating of a soluble ladder-type poly(p-phenylene) or via vacuum co-sublimation of small organic molecules. The different surface texture resulting from the fabrication process causes different feedback mechanisms. In both lasers higher lateral modes give rise to a broadening of the laser spectra at higher pumping levels. Received: 7 August 2000 / Revised version: 12 September 2000 / Published online: 8 November 2000     

Two-photon-pumped distributed feedback zirconia waveguide lasers

Distributed feedback laser action of narrow line-width output was demonstrated in zirconia waveguides doped with trans-4-[p-(N-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino) styryl]-N-methylpyridinium p-toluene sulfonate, a compound of strong two-photon up-converted emission near 620 nm. Single-beam pumping at 1.06 m led to intense up-converted amplified spontaneous emission at 620 nm. Transient gratings for coherent scattering were generated in the waveguides by crossing two 1.06-m beams. Narrow line-width distributed feedback laser emission was observed at 627 nm. PACS 42.55.Mv; 42.70.Jk; 42.79.Gn     

Precise rf tuning for cw dye lasers

Laser beams are rf amplitude modulated to generate side frequencies which are used to tune a cw dye laser with rf accuracy. In a laser spectroscopic test experiment a precision of ±15kHz has been realized.     

Transient behaviour of pulsed dye lasers

Some aspects of the transient behaviour of pulsed dye lasers are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Relaxation oscillations induced in the output from a dye cell by an external reflector have been observed and explained, using a rate equation approximation to the physical situation in the dye cell. These oscillations are shown to play an important part in the generation of short laser pulses from long cavity dye lasers. Finally, it is proposed that 10 ps pulses can be obtained from conventional dye lasers pumped by 100 ps pulses from a high-pressure nitrogen laser.     

Active mode locking of a high pressure CW waveguide CO2 laser

In this paper, we report on a new concept for active mode locking of lasers. It has been successfully applied to a cw waveguide CO₂ laser and pulse widths as short as 2 ns have been obtained.     

On the opto-voltaic measurements in CO and CO2 lasers

We observed and compared the opto-voltaic signals in CO and CO₂ lasers. The signals are obtained capacitively from the water cooling jacket as a low voltage source not influencing the current circuit. We observed from measurement that the output power and the so-called optovoltaic input power have a distinct relationship depending on laser current and cavity parameters. It will be shown that opto-voltaic detection is a very sensitive method especially for CO lasers.     

Far-field solution of the Helmholtz equation for double heterostructure diode lasers

On the basis of the Helmholtz equation the far-field distribution is derived for double heterostructure lasers. The results show that the far-field distribution in the direction normal to the junction plane approaches a Lorentzian function, but parallel to the junction it may be approximated by a Gaussian function. The far-field intensity patterns have analogous elliptic form. It is also shown, for the first time, that the separability condition is not strictly valid for the far-field of a laser diode. Only in the vicinity of the optical axis the field can be expressed as a product of two separate functions, each of which depends only on one of the two transverse coordinates parallel and perpendicular to the diode junction.     

Simultaneous phase-lock of five CO2 lasers to a primary Cs frequency standard

The output of a CO₂ laser, operating on theP _I(18) transition of¹³C¹⁶O₂ at 26941 GHz (11.128 m) was phase-locked to a 5 MHz signal from a primary Cs frequency standard by means of a frequency chain having only CO₂ lasers as infrared sources. Simultaneously, four other CO₂ lasers in the chain were phase-locked to the 26941 GHz output. This provided CO₂ laser frequencies at 26 450 305, 26 940 815, 28 694 625, 29 442 480, and 33 185 715 MHz having zero long-term-average frequency error relative to the Cs standard, and the ±10^–13 (3 Hz) long-term absolute uncertainty of the standard.