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Passively mode-locked color-center laser
Optics Letters
|September 11, 2009
Summary
Researchers achieved passive mode locking of a lithium fluoride laser using a polymethine cyanine dye. This method generated stable, ultrashort pulses around 870 nm, with durations as short as 390 femtoseconds.
Area of Science:
- Laser physics
- Nonlinear optics
- Materials science
Background:
- Passive mode locking is a crucial technique for generating ultrashort laser pulses.
- Color-center lasers, such as LiF:F(2)(+), are capable of operating at various wavelengths.
- Saturable absorbers are essential components for initiating and sustaining passive mode locking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first instance of passive mode locking for a continuous-wave (chopped) color-center laser.
- To investigate the use of polymethine cyanine dyes as saturable absorbers for LiF:F(2)(+) lasers.
- To achieve stable, ultrashort pulse generation from a LiF:F(2)(+) laser system.
Main Methods:
- Employed a polymethine cyanine dye (IR 140) as the saturable absorber.
- Utilized a LiF:F(2)(+) laser medium.
- Implemented a ring-cavity configuration with colliding-pulse mode locking.
Main Results:
- Achieved stable output trains of laser pulses.
- Generated pulses at wavelengths around 870 nm.
- Obtained ultrashort pulses with durations as short as 390 femtoseconds (fsec).
Conclusions:
- Passive mode locking using polymethine cyanine dyes is a viable technique for LiF:F(2)(+) lasers.
- The colliding-pulse mode locking configuration in a ring cavity enables the generation of femtosecond pulses.
- This research advances the capabilities of color-center lasers for generating ultrashort optical pulses.
