Title :
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
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;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
