Optimization of a cw mode-locked frequency-doubled Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ laser

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Appl. Opt.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.27.003608· OSTI ID:6955907

Vanherzeele, H

Several drawbacks of a cw-pumped mode-locked Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ laser are outlined, and it is shown how to overcome them. For the first time, attention is paid to thermally induced astigmatism and its compensation in a Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ rod. An optimized system generates an average output power similar to that of a typical Nd:YAG laser, however, with an increased stability and with pulse durations that are significantly shorter. The higher peak power in Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ can result in a higher conversion efficiency in a frequency-doubling process, provided the doubling crystal can handle the high average power. It will be demonstrated that a well-engineered Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ system may become the preferred choice for many applications, including seeding regenerative amplifiers and pumping synchronously mode-locked dye laser oscillators and amplifiers.

• Research Organization: E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Central Research and Development Department, Experimental Station, Wilmington, Delaware 19898
• OSTI ID: 6955907
• Journal Information: Appl. Opt.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Opt.; (United States) Vol. 27:17; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
DESIGN
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FREQUENCY MIXING
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HARMONIC GENERATION
HEATING
LASER MATERIALS
LASERS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
LITHIUM HALIDES
MATERIALS
MODE LOCKING
NEODYMIUM LASERS
OPTIMIZATION
SOLID STATE LASERS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM FLUORIDES