CW diode pumping and FM mode locking of a Nd: KGW laser

We have demonstrated cw diode end pumping of Nd: KGW, a novel solid-state gain medium, with up to 30% conversion efficiency into near-TEM₀₀ (M² < 1.05) output at = 1.067 µm for a pump level of 2.7 W. The slope efficiency was limited by intracavity reflections to 36%; however, direct comparison to a similar Nd:YAG laser indicates the same intrinsic slope efficiency of 60%. FM mode locking of this laser at 200 MHz has produced 12 ps pulses (compared to 16 ps for Nd: YAG), although an intracavity etalon was required. Considerable reduction in pulse width is possible (the line width limit is 0.5 ps) but different techniques may be necessary. Spatial hole burning was evident in both the 120 GHz free-running spectrum and the etalon-limited mode-locked spectrum.     

Investigation and spectral analysis of the plasma-induced ablation mechanism of dental hydroxyapatite

Experiments on the ablation of dental substance performed with picosecond laser pulses are reported for the first time. A mode locked Nd:YLF oscillator laser was used to generate 25 ps pulses at a wavelength of 1.053µm. These were seeded and amplified to pulse energies up to 1 mJ in a regenerative amplifier laser at repetition rates up to 1 kHz. Very precise cavities were ablated in the enamel of extracted human teeth by mounting the probes onto a computer controlled 3D translation stage. Scanning electron microscopy and dye penetration tests were performed there-after. In contrast to longer pulse durations, picosecond pulses ablate with no signs of thermal damage, if the laser pulses are spatially distributed over the target. Definitions of the physical mechanisms plasma-induced ablation and photodisruption are given. Furthermore, the generated plasma spark has been spectroscopically analyzed. Excitations of calcium and sodium have been observed. From the spectra, the plasma temperature and free electron density could be estimated. By converting part of the laser energy into the second harmonic using a LiNbO₃ crystal, a reference amplitude was achieved for the spectra. With this reference signal, a clear distinction could be made between spectra obtained from healthy and caries infected teeth, thus enabling a better control of caries removal in the near future.     

Stimulated emission and laser action of Pr3+-doped YA1O3

Groundstate absorption, fluorescence, excited-state absorption, and stimulated emission of Pr:YA1O₃ were measured in dependence on the polarization. The results reflect the anisotropy of the host lattice. Especially the polarized spectra of the stimulated emission fit very well with the laser data of this material. Seven cw laser transitions in the visible spectral range obtained so far in Pr:YA1O₃ with argon-ion laser pumping were identified in the spectra of the stimulated emission. In addition, two infrared cw laser transitions were realized. The best results were achieved for the³ P ₀³ F ₄ laser transition at 746.9 nm with a maximum slope efficiency of 24.6%, a maximum output power of 49.6 mW, and a laser threshold of 25 mW.     

High-efficiency continuous-wave diode-pumped Tm:Ho:LuAG laser at 2.1 μm

Continuous Wave (CW) laser action has been observed from a Ho:Tm:LuAG rod at 2.1 m pumped by a diode laser at 785 nm in the temperature range of 77–200 K. The maximum power observed was 1.38 W at an incident power of 4 W at a crystal temperature of 77 K. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was observed to be 35.6% at a threshold power of 0.2 W with a 95% output coupling mirror.     

Additive pulse mode-locked Nd: YAG laser

Additive pulse mode locking applied to lamppumped Nd: YAG lasers results in an attractive source of picosecond pulses at 1.06 m or 1.32 m with average powers at the Watt level. We provide detailed information on construction and operation and give data on performance. A modified active stabilization scheme allows not only improved stability of operation but also insight into the dynamics of pulse formation.     

Tm-Doped Fibre Laser Pumped Cr^2＋：ZnSe Poly-Crystal Laser

Demonstrations of cw lasing in Cr^2＋：ZnSe poly-crystal are reported. The laser consists of a 1.7-mm-thick Cr^2＋ ：ZnSe poly-crystal disc pumped by a Tin-silica double-clad fibre laser at 2050nm. Using a concave high- reflection mirror with a radius of curvature of 500mm as the rear mirror, the laser delivers up to 1030mW of radiation around 2.367μm.     

Intra-cavity second harmonic generation with Nd:YVO4/BIBO laser at 542 nm

We report, for the first time, an efficient intra-cavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) at 1084 nm in a nonlinear optical crystal, BiB₃O₆(BIBO) at the direction of (θ, ?) = (170.1°, 90°), performed with a LD end-pumped cw Nd:YVO₄ laser. With 590 mW diode pump power, a continuous-wave (cw) SHG output power of 19 mW at 542 nm yellow-green color has been obtained using a 1.5 mm-thick BIBO crystal. The optical conversion efficiency was 3.22%. It was found that the output wavelength could be 532 nm, 537 nm or 542 nm according to regulating the angle of BIBO.     

Three-level operation of a diode-bar-pumped Yb:S-FAP laser

We present an all solid-state Yb:S-FAP laser system running on the three-level laser transition at 985 nm. The pump source was a high fill-factor laser diode bar, with the output reformatted using a two-mirror beamshaping system to produce a rectangular pump beam that focused to a square spot. A nearly on-axis multipassing system was used to obtain four pump passes through a 1.6 mm Yb:S-FAP laser crystal. Gain-switched three-level laser output was achieved with an efficiency of 4.3% with respect to incident pump power. Electro-optic Q-switching produced 0.12 mJ pulses for a pump pulse energy of 11 mJ. Intra-cavity second-harmonic generation yielded a maximum pulse energy at 492.5 nm of 12 μJ.     

Intracavity frequency doubling of an active Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with 2.25 W output power at 473 nm

An active Q-switched diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG laser is reported with 2.9 W output power on the ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_9/2 transitions at a pump power of 24 W. With intracavity frequency doubling using a 20-mm-long LBO, a maximum blue output power of 2.25 W is achieved at a repetition rate of 23 kHz. The conversion efficiency from the corresponding Q-switched fundamental output to blue output is 96%. The peak power of the Q-switched blue pulse is up to 610 W with 160 ns pulse width. The fluctuation of the blue output power is less than 4.0% at the maximum output power.     

Orthogonally Linearly Polarized Dual Frequency Nd：YAG Lasers with Tunable Frequency Difference and Its Application in Precision Angle Measurement

The orthogonally linearly polarized dual frequency Nd： YA G lasers with two quarter wave plates in laser resonator are proposed. The intra-cavity variable birefringence, which is caused by relative rotation of these two wave plates in laser inner cavity, results in the frequency difference of the dual frequency laser also changeable. The theory model based on the Jones matrix is presented, as well as experimental results. The potential application of this phenomenon in precision roll-angle measurement is also discussed.