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Actively mode-locked and Q-controlled Nd:glass laser.
I V Tomov1, R Fedosejevs, M C Richardson
1National Research Council of Canada, Division of Physics, Ottawa K1A OR6, Canada.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|January 1, 1979
Summary
A new Q-controlled Nd:glass ring laser system generates 100 ps pulses synchronized to external events. Shorter, 15 ps pulses are achievable using prelase methods or saturable absorbers.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Development of high-power, short-pulse lasers is crucial for various scientific applications.
- Precise synchronization of laser pulses to external events is a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a Q-controlled neodymium-doped glass (Nd:glass) ring laser system.
- To achieve actively mode-locked operation for generating ultrashort laser pulses.
- To synchronize these pulses to external events with high precision.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Q-controlled Nd:glass ring laser.
- Employed active mode-locking with either KD*P or LiNbO3 electro-optic modulators.
- Investigated prelase methods and saturable absorbers for pulse shortening.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated 1.5 mJ, 100 picosecond (ps) pulses at 1.06 micrometer (µm).
- Achieved synchronization to external events with better than 400 ps accuracy.
- Produced shorter pulses, ranging from 37 to 15 ps, using prelase or saturable absorbers, albeit with reduced synchronization.
Conclusions:
- The developed Nd:glass ring laser system offers versatile pulse generation capabilities.
- Active mode-locking provides a reliable method for producing synchronized, high-energy laser pulses.
- Further optimization using prelase or saturable absorbers can yield even shorter pulses for specialized applications.
