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Continuous wave holographic laser resonators using degenerate four-wave mixing in a diode bar side-pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier

Continuous wave holographic laser resonators using degenerate four-wave mixing in a diode bar side-pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier
Continuous wave holographic laser resonators using degenerate four-wave mixing in a diode bar side-pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier
Degenerate four-wave mixing techniques used to produce self-adaptive laser resonators based on diffraction from a gain grating have shown considerable promise for correction of distortion in high-average-power solid-state laser systems, as well as for spectral and temporal control of the laser radiation [1-4]. In these systems, the gain grating is formed by spatial hole burning caused by interference of coherent beams in the laser amplifier and modulation of the population inversion. The gain grating formation can be used for phase conjugation by using the amplifier in a four-wave mixing geometry [2], for self-pumped phase conjugation by using an input beam in a self-intersecting loop geometry [3] and for formation of a self-starting adaptive oscillator by providing additional feedback from an output coupler and requiring no external optical input. Experimental demonstrations have been performed successfully in several laser systems including flashlamp-pumped and quasi-c.w. pumped neodymium-doped amplifiers [1,2], in laser-pumped titanium-doped sapphire [4] and CO2 lasers. We present for the first time, demonstration of a continuous-wave self-adaptive holographic laser resonator. The operation is based on the very high reflectivities (>800%) [5] and more recently (>10,000%) of a gain grating formed in a diode-bar side-pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier. We have subsequently modelled the FWM interactions and have found good agreement with experimental results. This resonator has been shown to correct for severe phase distortions introduced inside the loop. An output of ~1 W has so far been achieved, future steps include an additional power amplifier incorporated into the resonator loop geometry to give an expected multi-watt operation with a midterm goal of 10 W.
Hendricks, J.
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Mailis, Sakellaris
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Shepherd, David
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Tropper, Anne
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Crofts, G.J.
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Trew, M.
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Damzen, M.J.
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Eason, R.W.
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Hendricks, J.
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Mailis, Sakellaris
233e0768-3f8d-430e-8fdf-92e6f4f6a0c4
Shepherd, David
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Tropper, Anne
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Crofts, G.J.
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Trew, M.
d793cf39-6ee5-44a9-9e98-8b67a1664458
Damzen, M.J.
cce812a0-0634-4d11-b39e-0191ddd04d60
Eason, R.W.
e38684c3-d18c-41b9-a4aa-def67283b020

Hendricks, J., Mailis, Sakellaris, Shepherd, David, Tropper, Anne, Crofts, G.J., Trew, M., Damzen, M.J. and Eason, R.W. (2000) Continuous wave holographic laser resonators using degenerate four-wave mixing in a diode bar side-pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier. LASE 2000, San Jose CA, USA. 22 - 28 Jan 2000.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Degenerate four-wave mixing techniques used to produce self-adaptive laser resonators based on diffraction from a gain grating have shown considerable promise for correction of distortion in high-average-power solid-state laser systems, as well as for spectral and temporal control of the laser radiation [1-4]. In these systems, the gain grating is formed by spatial hole burning caused by interference of coherent beams in the laser amplifier and modulation of the population inversion. The gain grating formation can be used for phase conjugation by using the amplifier in a four-wave mixing geometry [2], for self-pumped phase conjugation by using an input beam in a self-intersecting loop geometry [3] and for formation of a self-starting adaptive oscillator by providing additional feedback from an output coupler and requiring no external optical input. Experimental demonstrations have been performed successfully in several laser systems including flashlamp-pumped and quasi-c.w. pumped neodymium-doped amplifiers [1,2], in laser-pumped titanium-doped sapphire [4] and CO2 lasers. We present for the first time, demonstration of a continuous-wave self-adaptive holographic laser resonator. The operation is based on the very high reflectivities (>800%) [5] and more recently (>10,000%) of a gain grating formed in a diode-bar side-pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier. We have subsequently modelled the FWM interactions and have found good agreement with experimental results. This resonator has been shown to correct for severe phase distortions introduced inside the loop. An output of ~1 W has so far been achieved, future steps include an additional power amplifier incorporated into the resonator loop geometry to give an expected multi-watt operation with a midterm goal of 10 W.

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Published date: 2000
Venue - Dates: LASE 2000, San Jose CA, USA, 2000-01-22 - 2000-01-28

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 16993
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/16993
PURE UUID: ac38d491-f855-4bd5-b104-5f0bce2d94b3
ORCID for Sakellaris Mailis: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8100-2670
ORCID for David Shepherd: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4561-8184
ORCID for R.W. Eason: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9704-2204

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Date deposited: 26 Aug 2005
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:39

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Contributors

Author: J. Hendricks
Author: Sakellaris Mailis ORCID iD
Author: David Shepherd ORCID iD
Author: Anne Tropper
Author: G.J. Crofts
Author: M. Trew
Author: M.J. Damzen
Author: R.W. Eason ORCID iD

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