Continuous-wave mid-infrared laser sources based on difference frequency generation

Sensitive photoacoustic overtone spectroscopy of acetylene with a multipass photoacoustic cell and a colour centre laser at 1.5 μm

Having summarized in the previous chapter some basic characteristics of lasers and optical resonators, we shall now discuss those properties which make the laser such an interesting and useful light source in spectroscopy We shall describe the experimental techniques that are necessary for achieving optimal results in spectroscopic applications These techniques comprise mode selection in lasers, wavelength and intensity stabilization of single-mode lasers, and experimental realizations of controlled wavelength tuning Furthermore we briefly discuss the interesting question of why a lower limit exists for the laser linewidth At the end of this chapter some methods of relative and absolute frequency measurements in the optical region will be presented

Lasers as Spectroscopic Light Sources

This document is part of Subvolume B ‘Laser Systems’, Part 2 of Volume 1 ‘Laser Physics and Applications’ of Landolt-Bornstein Group VIII ‘Advanced Materials and Technologies’.

4.4 Color-center lasers

The pulse width of a synchronously pumped laser chiefly depends on the available cavity bandwidth and the pump-pulse duration. A functional form of this dependence was suggested in the literature. We present an alternate relation which is supported by analytical and numerical results, as well as by experimental results, obtained by us and by others.

On the pulse width of synchronously pumped lasers

A NaCl∶OH ring color center laser, tunable from 1.49–1.70 μm with a two plate birefringent filter has been realized, which yields 1.5 W output power at 6 W Nd-YAG input pump power. Calculations of the spectral net gain including the homogeneously broadened gain profile, the birefringent transmission characteristics, and the mirror reflectivities are presented and compared with the experimental results.

G. Phillipps

Papers

NaCl color center laser with birefringent tuning