Timing and detuning studies of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser

The timing relationship between a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser and its pump laser is explored experimentally and theoretically. The experimental data is in quantitative agreement with numerical solutions of a semiclassical model that includes no free parameters. The data also agrees qualitatively with an approximate, analytic distillation of this model which is presented here for the first time. Our study has a direct bearing on the jitter and the long term stability of these important ultrashort pulse lasers.     

Transform-limited behavior from the synchronously pumped cw dye laser

We report for the first time transform limited behavior from the picosecond synchronously pumped cw dye laser. This is accomplished by the use of an inexpensive, low-loss intra-cavity etalon. The Fourier relationship between pulse frequency width and time duration is shown to be obeyed quantitatively at three different wavelengths. The pulse profile changes as a function of wavelength and does not follow an analytical functionality at any wavelength studied. For each wavelength, the optical cavity length producing transform limited pulses is shown to be the same.     

Pulse structure studies and absolute cavity length determination for a synchronously pumped picosecond dye laser

Second harmonic cross correlation functions of a pulse with its near neighbor have been studied in a synchronously pumped cw dye laser. Measurements were made both as a function of dye laser cavity length mismatch and the number of cavity round trips separating the correlated pulses. The pulse envelope is found to have a characteristic interpulse frequency determined by the pump laser, whereas the pulse substructure has a characteristic frequency determined by the dye laser cavity length. The cross correlation measurements allow experimental determination of the dye laser length corresponding to exact synchrony. In contrast to theoretical predictions the length of exact synchrony corresponds to optimum pulse shape and duration. Our results are discussed in terms of a simple model which leads to pulse duration estimates as much as twice those obtained by conventional analysis of autocorrelation traces.     

Dual picosecond dye lasers synchronously pumped by a mode locked cw yag laser

The performance of a novel dual dye laser system synchronously pumped by the frequency doubled output of a mode-locked CW-YAG laser is evaluated in relation to pulsewidth, pulse substructure, pulse spectral width and timing jitter. The behavior of the system is adequately described by a theoretical model which includes the time dependent gain and losses due to frequency bandwidth, cavity length mismatch and output coupler. The jitter is significantly reduced from that obtained with CW gas laser pumping as a result of the shorter pump pulse (50 ns instead of ≈100 ps). A routine operating condition uses 2-plate birefringen filters, 0.8 W pump power at 532 nm, to yield two 2.0 ps pulses having a cross correlation width of 3.8 ps, and 30 mW average power from each laser.     

Cavity detuning effects in the synchronously mode-locked CW dye laser

A detailed numerical model analysis of the synchronously mode-locked CW dye laser is presented. In the analysis, good mode-locking is found mainly for negative cavity detuning. The calculated cavity length detunig effects are compared with the results of experiments performed on the Oxazine-1 dye laser. The agreement between theory and experiment is satisfactory. The experimental good mode-locking regime is predicted correctly by this analysis. The present calculations are also compared with the hitherto reported qualitative model analyses with a gaussian dye pulse approximation. The validity of these model analyses is examined.     

Bistable operation of a dual-wavelength synchronously mode-locked cw dye laser

Bistable operation of a dual-wavelength synchronously mode-locked cw dye laser is reported. Wavelength switching is found to depend on the pump power and the dye laser cavity lengths.     

Picosecond and subpicosecon pulse generation in synchronously pumped mode-locked cw dye lasers

Generation of tunable near-infrared picosecond and subpicosecond pulses in a synchronously pumped cw mode-locked Oxazine-1-perchlorate dye laser has been investigated for different values of the important system parameters. The experimental results confirm the predictions of a simple theoretical model which describes the steady-state pulse duration in terms of gain modulation strength, pump power, intracavity bandwidth, pump pulse length and cavity detuning. For a pump-pulse length of 100 ps and a bandwidth of more than 500 Å for the intracavity tuning element dye-laser pulses as short as 0.35 ps have been obtained. Under these conditions up to 100 mW of average output power were provided. In addition, mode-locking of an Oxazine 750 dye laser by synchronous pumping with the cw train of pulses obtained from the Oxazine-1-Perchlorate laser is reported.     

Picosecond pulses produced by synchronously pumped cavity dumped pyridine 1 dye laser

Nearly transform limited picosecond pulses have been produced with a synchronously pumped cavity dumped dye laser using pyridine 1 laser dye. The observed tuning range of 678 to 790 nm extends the usefulness of cavity dumped systems pumped by mode locked argon ion lasers. Pulse autocorrelation widths as short as 3.85 ps were observed. The effects of the variation of bandwidth and net gain on autocorrelation shape and width are presented. Observed autocorrelation traces are compared to transform limited autocorrelation traces calculated from the corresponding power spectra.     

Near-infrared subpicosecond pulse generation in a synchronously mode-locked cw dye laser

Tunable subpicosecond pulses have been obtained from a synchronously mode-locked Oxazine-1 dye laser by tandem pumping with output pulses of a mode-locked Rhodamine 6G dye laser. The effects of cavity detuning on the pulse-width and the second harmonic power (the peak intensity of the autocorrelation trace) have been investigated. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with those predicted by a recent model analysis.     

Rate equation simulation of a synchronously pumped dye laser

A simple rate equation model of a standing wave synchronously pumped dye laser yields output pulses which agree qualitatively and quantitatively with recent experimental observations. The shape, amplitude and temporal position of the simulated pulse varies dramatically, not only with cavity length detuning, but also with the gain to loss ratio. Features of pulse formation and stability are predicted which are precluded by the steady-state assumption present in most other models.     

Stochastic analysis of synchroscan operations of a streak camera

This paper deals with a theoretical and experimental study of the picosecond synchronization of a streak camera used in conjunction with a cw actively mode-locked laser system. The temporal resolution of two synchronization set-ups, a passive device (sweep obtained directly from the mode-locker oscillator) and an active arrangement (deflection derived from the recurrent laser pulses through a photodiode and a tunnel diode) has been examined. On the basis of the stochastic analysis it has been possible to interpret the experimental results for both configurations: in particular, it has been demonstrated that even in the presence of phase noise in the laser signal, perfect synchronization can be achieved.     

Phase-modulation effects in synchronously pumped dye lasers

We report the numerical calculation of pulse generation in SPDL including phase-modulation effects due to gain saturation. The steady-state pulses are strongly down-chirped at the leading edge if the laser frequency is detuned from the line centre of the amplifying dye. The pulse duration is found to be almost independent of wavelength detuning.     

Theory of the synchronously pumped picosecond dye laser

The circulation of a synchronously mode locked dye laser pulse in a linear cavity configuration containing a dye cell as an active medium and a bandwidth-limiting element is treated. The condition that the pulse shape reproduces after each cavity round-trip provides a nonlinear integro-differential equation for the steady-state pulse shape. For the solution of this equation an approximate method, not limited to small pulse energies, is given and the pulse duration, intensity, energy, asymmetry of the pulse shape, stable regions and other interesting parameters are discussed.     

Difference frequency generation with a synchronously mode-locked cw dye laser system

The generation of continuous trains of tunable infra-red pulses by the nonlinear mixing of the wave-lengths available from a self-contained synchronously mode-locked cw dye laser is described. The factors determining the optimization of the process are identified and their roles demonstrated.     

Frequency offset locking of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser

We have developed a scheme of frequency offset locking for transferring the frequency stability of a commercial dye laser to a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser. By observing the beat frequency between the two dye lasers, mode stability of less than 2 MHz has been observed for the mode-locked dye laser mode. The use of the mode-locked system as a spectroscopic tool has been demonstrated by observing Doppler-free multiple pulse two photon spectra of the sodium 3S-4D transition.     

Laser dye DCM: CW,synchronously pumped,cavity pumped and single-frequency performance

Laser dye DCM exhibits a tuning range of 605 to 725 nm with a lasing efficiency as high as 34% when pumped by the 488 nm line of the argon ion laser, placing it among the most efficient and broadly tunable dyes known. Performance of the dye is characterized for four laser systems: 1) continuous wave, 2) synchronously pumped (SP), 3) cavity dumped synchrompously pumped (SPCD) and 4) single-frequency ring dye laser. Pulse peak powers were as high as 520 W and 2.8 kW for SP and SPCD systems respectively.     

YAG激光同步泵浦染料激光器产生38fs光脉冲

研究表明,不用碰撞脉冲锁模技术,而由一台简单的线型腔染料激光器,就可成功地产生短达38飞秒的光脉冲。这种激光器用六镜折叠腔,其中有Rh6G和DOPCI两个喷流和一个棱镜对色散补偿器,用连续锁模Nd:YAG激光器的倍频输出同步泵浦。染料激光脉冲的平均功率为20mW,脉冲重复频率近100MHz。     

Fluorescence decay times of indigo-derivatives measured by means of a synchroscan streak camera

Employing a synchronously pumped, modelocked dye laser for excitation in connection with a commercial, continuously operated streak camera the solvent dependent fluorescence decaytimes of several indigo-derivatives exhibiting a low fluorescence quantum efficiency were determined with a temporal resolution of about 5 ps in order to further elucidate their energy relaxation mechanisms, which are the object of continuous controversy.