Title :
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
fDate :
11/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
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;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
