Frequency selection of ion lasers using an inclined Fabry-Perot etalon
Theoretical and experimental conditions are investigated for frequency selection in gas-discharge ion lasers using an inclined Fabry-Perot etalon within the cavity and tuning it to the center of the amplification line. Calculations are made both for the case of a homogeneous plane wave as well as allowing for the radial field distribution of the Gaussian beam in the cavity. Curves are calculated giving the connection between the required sharpness of the selector and the unsaturated gain and the value of the degree of saturation of the active medium for values of the ratio between the Lorentz and Doppler components of the linewidth that are typical in the case of ion lasers. For values of the degree of saturation of the medium which are appreciable the etalon parameters are determined by the value of the unsaturated gain of the medium, i.e., by the level of over-all losses in the cavity. The question of the choice of etalon thickness is analyzed quantitatively. It is shown that in order to ensure single-frequency lasing at the center of the line, the optical thickness of the etalon should not exceed the maximum permissible value for which the region of dispersion of the etalon is equal to the halfwidth of the region of excess amplification, determined by the level of losses at the operating frequency. Experiments carried out on the 488-nm line of an argon laser and using a quartz etalon with dielectric reflection coating gave results which agreed satisfactorily with theory.
- OSTI ID:
- 6554092
- Journal Information:
- Opt. Spectrosc. (USSR) (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 44:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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