Title :
Frequency stability of RF-excited CO2 waveguide lasers in gain-switched and Q-switched regimes
Author :
Lapucci, A. ; Cangioli, G. ; Meucci, R.
Author_Institution :
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Florence, Italy
fDate :
3/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The behavior of an RF-excited waveguide laser is analyzed in a gain-switched and a Q-switched regime measuring the frequency sweep during the optical pulse. This enables laser-induced medium perturbations (LIMP) to be directly distinguished from the effects of the discharge power loading. The experimental observations confirm that the main perturbation in the laser output frequency is to be attributed to thermal energy variations. This gives the result of a Q-switch chirp more than one order of magnitude smaller than in the pulsed current mode, suggesting the use of Q-switching waveguide lasers in applications such as long range or Doppler laser radar systems. The chirp behavior in the pulsed current mode can show overshot relaxation corresponding to the propagation of density waves in the guide
Keywords :
Q-switching; carbon compounds; gas lasers; laser frequency stability; optical waveguides; perturbation theory; CO2; Doppler laser radar systems; Q-switch chirp; Q-switched regimes; Q-switching waveguide lasers; RF-excited CO2 waveguide lasers; discharge power loading; frequency sweep; gain-switched; guide density waves propagation; laser frequency stability; laser modes; laser output frequency; laser-induced medium perturbations; long range; optical pulse; overshot relaxation; pulsed current mode; thermal energy variations; Chirp; Frequency measurement; Gain measurement; Laser modes; Laser radar; Optical pulses; Optical waveguides; Q measurement; Stability; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
