Doubled single-frequency Nd:YLF ring laser coupled to a passive nonresonant cavity

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Ring lasers are crucial for various optical applications.
• Achieving unidirectional operation in lasers often requires complex intracavity components.
• External cavities can enhance laser properties but integrating them for unidirectional output is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for achieving unidirectional operation in a single-frequency ring laser.
• To enhance output power by utilizing an external passive nonresonant ring cavity as an optical diode.
• To report the first demonstration of a unidirectional planar ring laser at 1.3 micrometers.

Main Methods:

• Coupling a single-frequency ring laser to an external passive nonresonant ring cavity.
• Utilizing the external cavity to function as an optical diode, enabling unidirectional light output.
• Pumping a Neodymium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Nd:YLF) laser with 12 W at 797 nm.
• Implementing intracavity second-harmonic generation.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of a unidirectional planar ring laser system at 1.3 micrometers.
• The system achieved higher output power compared to lasers with intracavity unidirectional devices.
• Specific output yields of 440 mW at 661.3 nm and 340 mW at 656.0 nm were obtained.

Conclusions:

• The proposed system offers an effective and power-efficient method for unidirectional ring laser operation.
• This work represents a significant advancement in the development of planar ring lasers.
• The demonstrated technique has potential applications in areas requiring high-power, unidirectional laser sources.