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

Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Applied Optics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.35.000912· OSTI ID:284634

Kopf, D; Spuehler, G J; Keller, U ^[1]; Weingarten, K J ^[2]

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1. Ultrafast Laser Physics Institute of Quantum Electronics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Hoenggerberg-HPT, CH-8093 Zuerich (Switzerland)
2. Time-Bandwidth Products AG, ETH Hoenggerberg-HPT, CH-0893 Zuerich (Switzerland)

We demonstrate the use of a single prism for adjustable dispersion compensation in a mode-locked laser cavity, instead of the standard approach with a prism pair. A simple model based on the prism-pair configuration is presented to determine the group-velocity dispersion by use of ray optics to trace the wavelength-dependent optical axes through the cavity. We experimentally demonstrated this concept with a passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:glass laser producing 200-fs pulses with a 200-mW average output power, using only one intracavity prism. The advantages of such a cavity design are simple alignment, reduced loss, and lossless wavelength tunability. This technique can be generalized to other angularly dispersive elements such as prismatic output couplers. {copyright} {ital 1996 Optical Society of America.}

• OSTI ID: 284634
• Journal Information: Applied Optics, Journal Name: Applied Optics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 35; ISSN 0003-6935; ISSN APOPAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
DESIGN
DISPERSION RELATIONS
LASER CAVITIES
MODE LOCKING
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PRISMS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RAY TRACING