Thermo-optical model of repetitively pumped solid-state lasers

A thermo-optical model describing the cavity stability and TEM00-mode volume of a repetitively pumped solid-state laser is developed and verified experimentally. The model predicts a maximum theoretical TEM00 Gaussian-mode radius in the laser rod. This maximum mode radius is caused by a bifocusing of the cavity mode and is present even in gain-polarized materials that nominally suppress the effect of birefringence on beam polarization. The mode limitation effect is not eliminated by conventional optics and is reduced only marginally by the often-described technique of placing a second identical laser head in the cavity. A maximum mode radius implies a fundamental limit on the TEM00-mode energy that can be extracted from a given laser cavity.     

Three-dimensional computer model for simulating realistic solid-state lasers

We developed an accurate and fast three-dimensional computer model for simulating realistic solid-state laser systems. An iteration of the beam propagation calculation was developed to account for the counterpropagation of the laser beams in the saturated gain medium and eventually obtain the converged solution for the output beam. An analytic method was devised to account for the curved cavity mirror and the surface deformation of the gain medium induced by the temperature gradient due to pump absorption. The temperature gradient induced thermal lensing and stress birefringence is also properly included in the model calculation. This model has been validated and shown to be very accurate and efficient for modeling three-dimensional laser systems in a personal computer.     

Multireflection pumping concept for miniaturized diode-pumped solid-state lasers

An innovative pump concept for diode-pumped, solid-state lasers is introduced as an example for an Er:YSGG laser, permitting its miniaturization. Embedded in a multireflective pump cavity, the laser crystal is simultaneously side and end pumped. Specially calculated and shaped deflecting optics distribute the coaxially input pumping light homogeneously over the lateral surface of the crystal, therefore reducing the size of the laser head, including the optical resonator, to a length of 27.5 mm and an outside diameter of 12.5 mm. The differential efficiency achieved is between 8.7% and 24%. The laser emits energy of 15.7 mJ at an absolute efficiency of 9.1% and a repetition rate of 4 Hz.     

Simple relations for different resonators of solid-state lasers

Simple relations in terms of effective g parameters are given for linear resonators that contain laser rods with curved endfaces and for symmetrical and asymmetric ring resonators of solid-state lasers. The equivalence relationships of thick and thin lenses have been applied.     

Multistable generation of monochromatic radiation in solid-state lasers

It is shown that a solid-state laser with unpumped sections of action medium which act as a saturable absorber, may operate in a stable, single-mode cw lasing regime. The establishment of lasing in a particular mode under steady-state conditions depends on the initial conditions of transient evolution. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 24, 89–92 (February 26, 1998)     

Microfabricated solid-state dye lasers based on a photodefinable polymer

We present a solid polymer dye laser based on a single-mode planar waveguide. The all-polymer device is self-contained in the photodefinable polymer SU-8 and may therefore easily be placed on any substrate and be integrated with polymer-based systems. We use as the active medium for the laser the commercially available laser dye Rhodamine 6G, which is incorporated into the SU-8 polymer matrix. The single-mode slab waveguide is formed by three-step spin-coating deposition: a buffer layer of undoped SU-8, a core layer of SU-8 doped with Rhodamine, and a cladding layer of undoped SU-8.     

Experimental determination of the fundamental-mode diameter in solid-state lasers

A method to determine directly the radius of the fundamental mode in a laser crystal has been developed. The radius is measured by comparison of the distribution of the spontaneous emission in the pumped region during laser operation with the fluorescence distribution without laser emission. Measuring the mode radius with various pump powers enables one to optimize the overlap between the pump and the cavity beam and to determine the dioptric power of the thermally induced lens.     

Simulation of the thermal states of quantrons of solid-state lasers

A method for calculating the temperature fields of the elements of the quantron and the structure and characteristics of the complex of programs for automated design of solid-state lasers are described.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 107–113, July, 1987.     

Homogenizer and multipass pump beam combination for quasi-longitudinally diode-pumped solid-state lasers

We present a new apparatus making possible both homogeneity and multipass pumping. It is made up of a square section kaleidoscope made of transparent medium on the terminal faces of which are set mirrors with transparent holes at the centers. The kaleidoscope homogenizes the beam. The pump power reflected by the amplifier medium returns in the kaleidoscope, and the mirrors reflect this pump light toward the amplifier medium.     

Compact diode pumped cw solid-state lasers in the visible spectral region

This paper reviews recent advances in diode pumped cw solid-state lasers in the visible spectral region. Such lasers are based on rare earth doped materials. Visible wavelengths can be generated by frequency conversion of near IR-lasers or by up-conversion pumped rare earth ion lasers.     

Hot-press molded poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix for solid-state dye lasers

A hot-press molding method was used to fabricate dye-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) slabs. Three rhodamine dyes, Rh640 (ClO(4)), Rh6G(ClO(4)), and Rh6G (Cl), were impregnated into the PMMA matrix first by dissolving the dye and granular PMMA in a solvent mixture of chloroform and methanol and then heating the mixture in vacuo at 175 degrees C to obtain a spongy preform. The powdered preform was molded into slabs at 175 degrees C and at <1 mbar, to eliminate the formation of bubbles in the slabs. We annealed the slabs for several hours to improve its optical homogeneity and hence its lasing efficiency. When pumped by a 1.5-mJ nitrogen laser, we obtained peak lasing efficiencies of 8% and 7.8%, respectively, for Rh6G (ClO(4)) and Rh640 (ClO(4)) in PMMA matrices. The lasing efficiency of Rh6G (ClO(4))-doped PMMA suffered a reduction rate of 0.012%/shot compared with 0.15%/shot for Rh640 (ClO(4))-doped PMMA. In contrast, Rh6G (Cl) in a hot-press molded PMMA slab suffered thermal bleaching that resulted in a low lasing efficiency of <1%; this can be explained by its absorption and fluorescence characteristics.     

Thermal and optical properties of polymer hosts for solid-state dye lasers.

We present measurements of thermal and optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), PMMA modified by the addition of ethanol (MPMMA), and copolymers of methyl methacrylate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate [P(HEMA:MMA)]. Spectral transmission of the polymers is excellent (alpha = 0.5 cm(-1) at 400 nm, decreasing to 0.04 cm(-1) at 633 nm). Measured laser damage thresholds of MPMMA and P(HEMA:MMA) show at least a twofold increase over PMMA. Thermal lensing measured in these hosts doped with Rhodamine 6G is shown to be similar (f = -450 mm for pump power of 200 mW in a 2-mm-diameter spot, scaling with pump intensity). Compared with MPMMA, P(HEMA:MMA) offers an improved surface quality and a more uniform dye distribution.     

Role of the stimulated-emission rate in the photostability of solid-state dye lasers

The lasing and photostability characteristics of Rhodamine 6G and Pyrromethene 567 dyes dispersed in polymeric host materials have been investigated as a function of the intensities of incident pump and signal beams in a longitudinally pumped dye laser in an oscillator-amplifier configuration. A substantial reduction in the rate of photodegradation was observed under lasing conditions and with increasing signal intensity in a dye amplifier, establishing that the service lives of these materials improve with an increase in the rate of stimulated emission. We observed approximately 62% amplifier efficiency at 2 Hz operation and 10% reduction in amplifier efficiency at 10 Hz operation after exposure of 72,000 pulses by use of a Pyrromethene disk.     

Quarter-wave discrete wavelet design of dichroic highly reflecting-transmitting mirrors for ultrafast solid-state lasers

Thin-film wavelets are further analyzed for the design of dichroic mirrors for ultrafast solid-state lasers that provide both high reflectance on the lasing wavelength range and high transmittance of the pump light. Discrete quarter-wave-thick dielectric thin-film structures of homogeneous refractive indices following a quintic-wavelet envelope are considered. Relations for the reflectance on the lasing wavelength range are given. Adding several index-matching quarter-wave layers to both sides of the discrete wavelet optimizes the transmittance of the pump light. The design is further optimized to get minimum phase distortion on the lasing wavelength range.     

Versatile, compact, TEM(00)-mode resonator for side-pumped single-rod solid-state lasers

We propose the use of an auxiliary lens or mirror to design a compact dynamically stable resonator for single-rod lasers. It was found that an intracavity divergent element (divergent lens or convex mirror) is suitable for obtaining a large TEM(00)-mode volume, whereas a convergent one renders the resonator insensitive to mechanical misalignment. A reliable and compact dynamically stable resonator can be designed conveniently by use of such characteristics. Both three- and four-element resonators were designed and tested with a laser-diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser.