KEYWORDS: Semiconductor lasers, Laser systems engineering, Optical pumping, Absorption, Rubidium, Magnetic resonance imaging, High power lasers, Xenon, Tunable lasers, Tissues
In this paper, we present the results of development of a 200 W laser systems capable to deliver narrowband (10 GHz) radiation with tunable wavelength (350-400 pm) and tunable linewidth (10-50 GHz). The compact design, capability of simultaneous emission of several narrowband
emission lines (e.g. for Rb/Cs or Rb/K gas systems), high signal to noise ratio (>30 dB) makes the new system suitable for SEOP and other ultra-narrow linewidth demanding applications.
We present the results of the new application of the Transverse chirp Bragg Grating (TCBG) for development of the linewidth tunable diode laser at 976 nm. The main advantage of this method is that a simple rotation of TCBG allows continuous tuning of emission linewidth with a maximum span determined by the chirp rate of the grating. Thus, the tunability range from several hundreds of picometer to several nanometers can be achieved.
The technology of volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) recorded in photo-thermo-refractive glass allows considerable narrowing of the linewidth of laser diodes from a couple of nanometers to tens of picometeres. Such narrowband systems with GHz-wide emission spectra found broad applications for Diode Pumped Alkali vapor Lasers, optically pumped rare gas metastable lasers, Spin Exchange Optical Pumping, atom cooling, wide area Raman spectroscopy, etc.
In addition to high lasing power, these applications require a very precise emission wavelength with extremely narrow linewidth, and the wavelength tunability to match an absorption line width of a particular alkali metal. For example, for Rb (794.7 nm) the linewidth dependence on pressure caused by interaction with 3He and N2 gases in the cell is on the order of 20 GHz/atm. Thus, the requirements for the pump laser systems become stricter since it requires not only narrow line but also the ability to tune the linewidth to match an absorption linewidth.
In this paper, we present the results of development of a new generation of narrowband laser systems. The compact design, capability of simultaneous emission of several narrowband emission lines (e.g. for Rb/Cs or Rb/K gas systems), wavelength and linewidth tunability, high signal to noise ratio (>30 dB) makes the new system suitable for SEOP and other ultra-narrow linewidth demanding applications.
Wideband emission spectra of laser diode bars (several nanometers) can be largely narrowed by the usage of thick volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) recorded in photo-thermo-refractive glass. Such narrowband systems, with GHz-wide emission spectra, found broad applications for Diode Pumped Alkali vapor Lasers, optically pumped rare gas metastable lasers, Spin Exchange Optical Pumping, atom cooling, etc.
Although the majority of current applications of narrow line diode lasers require CW operation, there are a variety of fields where operation in a different pulse mode regime is necessary. Commercial electric pulse generators can provide arbitrary current pulse profiles (sinusoidal, rectangular, triangular and their combinations). The pulse duration and repetition rate however, have an influence on the laser diode temperature, and therefore, the emitting wavelength. Thus, a detailed analysis is needed to understand the correspondence between the optical pulse profiles from a diode laser and the current pulse profiles; how the pulse profile and duty cycle affects the laser performance (e.g. the wavelength stability, signal to noise ratio, power stability etc.). We present the results of detailed studies of the narrowband laser diode performance operating in different temporal regimes with arbitrary pulse profiles. The developed narrowband (16 pm) tunable laser systems at 795 nm are capable of operating in different pulse regimes while keeping the linewidth, wavelength, and signal-to-noise ratio (>20 dB) similar to the corresponding CW modules.
The generation of tunable narrowband terahertz (THz) radiation has shown much interest in recent years. THz systems are used for rotational-vibrational spectroscopy, nondestructive inspection, security screening and others. Monochromatic THz emission has been generated by means of THz parametric oscillation, nonlinear difference frequency generation, and quantum cascade lasers. Intracavity difference frequency generation (DFG) in the nonlinear crystal gallium arsenide (GaAs) is known as an efficient way to generate a continuous wave THz radiation. A novel high power solid state resonator is presented with the use of volume Bragg grating (VBG) technology to create a dual channel system by spectral beam combination. The system consists of two separate Tm:YLF crystals and two VBGs for narrowband wavelength selection. At the end of the resonator both channels share common spherical mirrors, which provide feedback and focuses the beam for nonlinear purposes. This allows each channel to be independent in power and wavelength, eliminating gain competition and allowing individual wavelength tunability. The VBGs are recorded in photo-thermo-refractive glass, which has a high laser induced damage threshold and can withstand the high intracavity power present in the resonator. Tunability of the system has shown spectral spacing from 5 to 20 nm, 0.4 - 1.7 THz, and intracavity continuous wave power levels from 80 to 100 W. By placing the GaAs crystal near the waist, THz radiation can be extracted from the cavity.
A new solution for building high power, solid state lasers for space flight is to fabricate the whole laser resonator in a
single (monolithic) structure or alternatively to build a contiguous diffusion bonded or welded structure. Monolithic
lasers provide numerous advantages for space flight solid-state lasers by minimizing misalignment concerns. The closed
cavity is immune to contamination. The number of components is minimized thus increasing reliability. Bragg mirrors
serve as the high reflector and output coupler thus minimizing optical coatings and coating damage. The Bragg mirrors
also provide spectral and spatial mode selection for high fidelity. The monolithic structure allows short cavities resulting
in short pulses. Passive saturable absorber Q-switches provide a soft aperture for spatial mode filtering and improved
pointing stability. We will review our recent commercial and in-house developments toward fully monolithic solid-state
lasers.
Application of the Transverse Chirped Bragg Grating (TCBG - a reflecting volume Bragg grating with
continuously variable resonant wavelength across the aperture) for the narrowband tunable ring-cavity fiber laser is
presented. The main advantage of the use of TCBG is that its linear translation allows continuous tuning of emission
wavelength within 5-10 nm band. Yb doped fiber laser operating in the wavelength range of 1050-1055 nm of
narrowband emission up to 2.3 W is demonstrated.
We are reporting on a single frequency pulsed fiber laser based on extremely narrow band volume Bragg gratings
(VBGs) recorded in photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass. The performance of Yb-doped fiber laser was studied in both
passive and active Q-switch schemes. It is shown stable operation in both single TEM00 transverse mode and single
longitudinal mode regimes. It generates pulses of 40 - 200 ns duration at a repetition rate of 10 - 100 Hz in active and
17-250 KHz in passive Q-switch configurations with a pulse energy of ~50 μJ, limited by the onset of stimulated
Brillouin scattering that leads to fiber fracture.
A Fabry-Perot etalon, consisting of two π phase shifted reflecting volume Bragg gratings, is presented. These gratings
are obtained as a moiré pattern resulting from sequential recording of interference patterns with different periods in
photo-thermo-refractive glass and called moiré volume Bragg gratings (MVBGs). A detailed investigation of the
fundamental operating principles and measurement techniques for phase shifted gratings is shown. Experimental results
demonstrating a MVBG with a 15 pm bandwidth and 90% transmission at resonance are presented. The use of the
MVBG for longitudinal mode selection in a laser resonator is shown.
The values of tensor components of nonlinear susceptibilities responsible for self-action effects have been measured in quadratic nonlinear-optical crystals at the Nd:YAG laser wavelength. The angular dependences of the nonlinear susceptibilities have been determined on the base of measured relations between tensor components. The variation of the high-order nonlinear susceptibilities at various spectral ranges has been discussed. The measurements have been conducted on the basis of the analysis of polarization dependences of focused radiation transmittance in the Z-scan scheme.
The results of theoretical investigations of the off-axis Z-scan technique for the measurement of nonlinear refraction in materials are presented. The normalized transmittances are calculated for different aperture radii and positions. The dependence of both the normalized transmittance amplitude (Tpv) and the distance between maximum and minimum (Zpv) on the aperture radius is analyzed.
This paper presents experimental results on nonlinear refraction, nonlinear absorption and optical limiting in photrefractive crystals Bi12SiO20 (BSO) and Bi12GeO20 (BGO) at the fundamental and second harmonic wavelengths of picosecond Nd:YAG laser radiation. It is shown that nonlinear refraction was due self-focusing process when nonlinear absorption was due to three-photon absorption at the wavelength of 1064 nm and two-photon absorption at the wavelength of 532 nm.
The measurements of nonlinear refractive indices and third-order susceptibilities responsible for self-action effects in nonlinear-optical crystals (KDP, KTP, BBO, LiNbO3) in various spectral ranges (1064 and 532 nm) were carried out by the Z-scan method. It was obtained that investigated media (excepting KTP crystal λ=1064 nm) had self-focusing properties. The significant values of nonlinear losses were recorded at λ=532 nm. The analysis and comparison of experimentally and theoretically obtained values of nonlinear susceptibilities are given. The angular and polarization dependencies of Kerr nonlinearities were analyzed.
Investigations of nonlinear optical parameters of AU, Ag, Pt and Cu colloidal solutions by Z-scan method are presented. Nonlinear refractive indices of these solutions on the wavelength of Nd:YAG laser radiation and its second harmonic have been measured. Two-photon absorption and nonlinear susceptibilities of these solutions have been studied.
KEYWORDS: Difference frequency generation, Harmonic generation, Frequency conversion, Nd:YAG lasers, Molecules, Picosecond phenomena, Ultraviolet radiation, Systems modeling, Chemical species, Electrons
Investigations of nonlinear-optical frequency conversion of Nd:YAG laser radiation in naphthalene vapors are presented. Third harmonic generation caused by difference frequency generation in six-photon process was offered. Optimum temperature for naphthalene vapor was found to be 170 degree(s)C, at which the synchronous conversion of pump radiation to the third harmonic radiation was carried out. Third harmonic generation conversion efficiency varied within the 10-10 depending on pump intensity and cell temperature. Third-and fifth-order nonlinear-optical susceptibilities of naphthalene vapors were calculated.
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