Highly efficient Raman frequency converter with strontium tungstate crystal

A highly efficient extracavity Raman laser pumped by the infrared nanosecond laser pulses is presented utilizing the recently recommended Raman medium-strontium tungstate crystal (SrWO/sub 4/). The maximum conversion efficiency of the first and second Stokes pulses both reached about 50%, and the maximum total conversion efficiency of the first and second Stokes was obtained to be 70% in the experiment. The conversion efficiency dependence on the polarization and the temporal characteristics of the Stokes and pump pulses were also studied. A theoretical model for the solid-state extracavity Raman laser was established based on the radiation transfer equations describing stimulated Raman scattering processes, and solved numerically. This model can accurately predict the energy transfer dynamics observed in extracavity Raman lasers.