Polarization effects, birefringent filtering, and single-frequency operation in lasers containing a birefringent gain crystal

Author

Kemp, Alan J. ; Friel, Graham J. ; Lake, Tanya K. ; Conroy, Richard S. ; Sinclair, Bruce D.

Author_Institution

Sch. of Phys. & Astron., St. Andrews Univ., UK

Volume

36

Issue

2

fYear

2000

Firstpage

228

Lastpage

235

Abstract

The effect of having a birefringent gain crystal is studied in the context of two laser systems: an intracavity frequency-doubled microchip laser and a compact single-frequency laser utilizing a birefringent filter. A model based on Jones calculus is proposed to predict the polarization and wavelength structure of the longitudinal modes and is found to be consistent with experimental measurements. The optimization of these systems is discussed, and the importance of the birefringences in the cavity and cavity length is indicated.

Keywords

birefringence; laser beams; laser modes; laser theory; laser tuning; light polarisation; micro-optics; microcavity lasers; optical filters; optical harmonic generation; optical pumping; optimisation; solid lasers; Jones calculus; birefringences; birefringent filter; birefringent filtering; birefringent gain crystal; cavity; cavity length; compact single-frequency laser; intracavity frequency-doubled microchip laser; laser systems; lasers; longitudinal modes; optimization; polarization; polarization effects; single-frequency operation; wavelength structure; Birefringence; Calculus; Filtering; Filters; Frequency; Laser modes; Microchip lasers; Polarization; Predictive models; Wavelength measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.823469

Filename

823469