Spectral characteristics of laser cavities employing multipass grating interferometers as output couplers

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.4.001781· OSTI ID:5950689

Giuliani, G; Palange, E; Salvetti, G

The spectral characteristics of laser cavities terminating in a multipass grating interferometer are investigated. It is shown that, in presence of internal apertures, the frequency profile of the intracavity electric field is characterized by a predominant, very narrow single line that can easily be tuned over spectral intervals that are much larger than the interferometer's free-spectral range. This is a consiquence of the combined action of the interferometer and of the intracavity apertures that select both the transverse mode and a restricted portion of the k space. Experimental evaluation of the spectral behavior of a TEA CO/sub 2/ laser is reported, and possible application to single-longitudinal-mode operation of broadly tunable lasers is discussed.

• Research Organization: Dipartimento di Fisica, Gruppo Nazionale di Struttura della Materia, Universita-grave-accent di Roma, P. le Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy
• OSTI ID: 5950689
• Journal Information: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 4:11; ISSN JOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
GAS LASERS
INTERFEROMETERS
LASER CAVITIES
LASERS
LINE WIDTHS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MODE SELECTION
OPTICAL MODES
OSCILLATION MODES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
TESTING
TUNING