Single frequency operation of Nd: YAG lasers

Abstract

520-00This manuscript describes the design and testing of a Nd:YAG injection seeding system which produces stable single axial mode Q-switched pulses at 1.06 ??m. The master oscillator is a cw single frequency Nd:YAG laser pumped by Kr arc lamps. The frequency is locked to a highly stable reference interferometer. The cw laser can operate single frequency on either the main 1.064 ??m or the 1.061 ??m transition, with tunability of up to 180 GHz and 80 GHz respectively. Polarized, TEM[00] single frequency output of 0.5 watts can be achieved at the peak of the 1.064 ??m transition. The slave oscillator is a commercial polarization coupled, diffraction stabilized, Q-switched Nd:YAG. A new technique for eliminating spatial hole burning in laser resonators is described and implemented in the slave oscillator. Also described is a new method which actively maintains the required match between the slave resonator axial mode spectrum and the master oscillator frequency. The integrated system produces stable single axial mode Q-switched pulses over periods of hours without any adjustment.