Mode-locked laser cavities with a single prism for dispersion compensation.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Ultrafast Science

Background:

• Mode-locked lasers are crucial for generating ultrashort optical pulses.
• Traditional dispersion compensation often uses prism pairs, which can increase complexity and optical loss.
• Adjustable dispersion compensation is vital for optimizing pulse characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a simplified method for adjustable dispersion compensation in mode-locked laser cavities.
• To present a model for calculating group-velocity dispersion using a single prism.
• To explore the advantages of a single-prism design over conventional prism pairs.

Main Methods:

• Developed a theoretical model based on ray optics to trace wavelength-dependent optical paths.
• Implemented a single intracavity prism for dispersion compensation.
• Experimentally validated the technique using a passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:glass laser.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated 200-fs pulses with 200-mW average output power using a single prism.
• Demonstrated adjustable dispersion compensation with the single-prism configuration.
• The single-prism design offers simpler alignment and reduced optical losses compared to prism pairs.

Conclusions:

• A single prism can effectively achieve adjustable dispersion compensation in mode-locked lasers.
• This technique simplifies laser cavity design and improves performance.
• The method is potentially generalizable to other angularly dispersive elements.