Injection-seeded high-power Yb:YAG thin-disk laser stabilized by the Pound-Drever-Hall method

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• High-power, narrow-linewidth lasers are crucial for precision measurements.
• Existing laser stabilization techniques can suffer from issues like Trojan locking points.
• The CREMA collaboration requires advanced laser sources for muonic hydrogen spectroscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a stable, injection-seeded thin-disk Yb:YAG laser.
• To implement a modified Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) stabilization scheme for improved reliability.
• To characterize the laser's performance for potential applications in muonic hydrogen spectroscopy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an injection-seeded thin-disk Yb:YAG laser architecture operating at 1030 nm.
• Adapted the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique to eliminate Trojan locking points, ensuring robust re-locking.
• Employed heterodyne measurements to determine the spectral linewidth and characterized pulse energy and beam quality.

Main Results:

• Achieved single-frequency pulses with 50 mJ energy and M² < 1.1 beam quality.
• Demonstrated adjustable pulse lengths ranging from 55-110 ns.
• Confirmed a spectral linewidth of 3.7 MHz and a short pulse build-up time of 850 ns.

Conclusions:

• The developed laser system offers stable, reliable, and high-performance operation.
• The modified PDH stabilization method enhances laser robustness and long-term usability.
• The laser's characteristics make it highly suitable for precision laser spectroscopy of muonic hydrogen.