Passively Q-switched solid-state lasers with intracavity optical parametric oscillators

Author

Xiao, Guohua ; Bass, Michael ; Acharekar, Madhu

Author_Institution

Center for Res. & Educ. in Opt. & Lasers, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

Volume

34

Issue

11

fYear

1998

fDate

11/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2241

Lastpage

2245

Abstract

A rate-equation-based model that describes the behavior of a passively Q-switched solid-state laser containing an intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is developed. In such a laser there is no output at the fundamental or pump wavelength. When the OPO signal field begins to build up, it acts as a loss for the pump and thus cavity dumps the pump resonator. The model developed explains this behavior and enables one to select OPO parameters which optimize the system´s performance. Application of the model to a compact, lightweight, eye-safe, laser range finder operating at 1.54 μm is also described

Keywords

Q-switching; laser cavity resonators; laser ranging; laser theory; neodymium; optical parametric oscillators; optical pumping; solid lasers; 1.54 mum; Nd⁺-doped solid lasers; OPO parameters; OPO signal field; cavity dumps; intracavity optical parametric oscillator; intracavity optical parametric oscillators; lightweight eye-safe laser range finder; optical pump loss; passively Q-switched solid-state lasers; pump resonator; pump wavelength; rate-equation-based model; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Nonlinear optics; Optical losses; Optical pumping; Optical resonators; Oscillators; Pump lasers; Solid lasers; Solid modeling;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.726620

Filename

726620