2008/07/24 by A. Pesatori, Alessandro Pesatori, G. Galzerano +9
Physics and Astronomy · Engineering · #Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies #Solid State Laser Technologies #Laser Design and Applications
paper · doi:10.1109/tim.2008.925717
A longitudinally pumped, widely tunable, solid-state Yb:KYF <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sub> laser was developed with special design for applications to optical frequency metrology and absolute frequency stabilization. The KYF <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sub> crystalline host, combined with efficient diode pumping, allows for wide wavelength tunability at about 1.03 mum in a single transverse mode. Two different laser cavity designs were experimentally investigated. The combined use of an intracavity birefringent filter and uncoated glass etalons provides single-frequency output power at the 100-mW level in a folded-cavity resonator. A second hemispherical linear cavity was also developed with one or two coated intracavity etalons for single-frequency operation. The novel laser sources were thoroughly characterized in terms of output power and beam quality, amplitude noise, wavelength tunability, and single-axial-mode operation. High-quality TEM <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">00</sub> single-frequency laser radiation opens the way to the development of a new optical frequency standard based on the <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">I</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> molecule at 0.5- mum wavelength.