Frequency-doubled, single-frequency Nd:YAG laser. Final technical report

Technical Report · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:6484648

Clobes, A R

Development work reported herein is to achieve stable, single-frequency second harmonic power output from a Nd:YAG laser is reported. Particular emphasis is placed on frequency and amplitude stability and on conversion efficiency. The experimental results of this program indicate that frequency and amplitude stable frequency-doubled operation of the single-frequency Nd:YAG laser can be achieved. Single-frequency operation is obtained by the use of a ring cavity containing a differential loss and frequency-doubled operation by the use of an intracavity 5 cu mm barium sodium niobate crystal. The 1.06 microns laser output is 3/4 to 1 W and the maximum 0.53 microns output is 140 mW. Degradation of the crystal reduced this level to a repeatable 50 to 100 mW frequency stable to + or - 12 MHz and amplitude stable to + or - 4% over a number of minutes operating period. Thermal effects in the nonlinear crystal arising from absorption of the fundamental wavelength radiation were found to limit the amplitude and frequency stability of the laser output. The same effects distort the 0.53 microns farfield beam profile and reduce the conversion efficiency. Techniques necessary to achieve stable frequency-doubled operation of the single-frequency Nd;YAG laser were established during this program. Further improvement in the stability and conversion efficiency depends on the availability of barium sodium niobate crystals with low absorption at 1.06 microns.

• Research Organization: United Aircraft Corp., East Hartford, CT (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6484648
• Report Number(s): AD-907116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
LASERS
NEODYMIUM LASERS
NIOBATES
NIOBIUM COMPOUNDS
OPERATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLID STATE LASERS
STABILITY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS