Programmable pulse shaping for optimized laser interactions

Author

Bruner, Barry D. ; Miller, R. J. Dwayne ; Demmer, D. ; Walker, David

Author_Institution

Dept. of Chem. & Phys., Toronto Univ., Ont., Canada

fYear

1999

fDate

28-28 May 1999

Firstpage

479

Lastpage

480

Abstract

Summary form only given. We have developed Q-switched lasers which function as arbitrary pulse shapers. We apply the effect of "dynamic mirrors" by temporally varying the cavity Q as the laser rod is pumped (i.e. effectively varying the output coupling). Hence, the energy storage in the rod and the intracavity intensity can be controlled. This allows temporal shaping of the laser pulses with intracavity elements. We have built and tested both acousto-optic and electro-optic pulse shapers. Both systems are based around quasi-CW diode-pumped Nd:YLF systems.

Keywords

Q-switching; acousto-optical devices; electro-optical devices; laser beams; laser mirrors; lithium compounds; neodymium; optical materials; optical pulse shaping; optical pumping; solid lasers; yttrium compounds; LiYF/sub 4/; Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ laser; Q-switched lasers; acousto-optic pulse shapers; arbitrary pulse shapers; cavity Q; dynamic mirrors; electro-optic pulse shapers; energy storage; intracavity elements; intracavity intensity; laser pulses; laser rod; optimized laser interactions; programmable pulse shaping; pumped laser; quasi-CW diode-pumped laser; temporal shaping; Laser excitation; Laser feedback; Optical amplifiers; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Power system harmonics; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse compression methods; Pulse shaping methods; Ultrafast optics;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 1999. CLEO '99. Summaries of Papers Presented at the Conference on

Conference_Location

Baltimore, MD, USA

Print_ISBN

1-55752-595-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CLEO.1999.834473

Filename

834473