Ground State Depleted Laser Experiments

R. Beach; R. Solarz; S. Mitchell; L. Brewer; S. Weinzapfel

doi:10.1117/12.951172

6 July 1989 Ground State Depleted Laser Experiments

R. Beach, R. Solarz, S. Mitchell, L. Brewer, S. Weinzapfel

Proceedings Volume 1040, High Power and Solid State Lasers II; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.951172
Event: OE/LASE '89, 1989, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

Ground state depleted (GSD) lasers have been described in an earlier paper as room temperature, four-level, high energy density lasers with uniform gain when pumped either transversely or longitudinally. Spectroscopic measurements have been performed at Livermore in various Nd doped glass and crystalline materials to extract parameters (stark resolved emission spectra, branching ratios, fluorescence lifetimes, and stimulated emission cross sections) important to the design of a GSD laser. This study has allowed us to identify several systems amenable to experimental demonstration. The results of a demonstration in one of these systems consisting of a sample of Nd doped Y₂Si0₅ which is pumped by a flash lamp pumped dye laser will be presented. Measurements are made to document the degree to which the ground state of the laser has been depleted. An important problem present in GSD lasers, illustrated by the results of our demonstration, is holding off the gain of the Nd ⁴F_3/2 - ⁴I_11/2 transition which typically has an emission cross section 5 to 10 times larger than the desired ⁴F_3/2 - ⁴I_11/2 transition cross section. Several possible techniques for holding off the ⁴F_3/2 - ⁴I _11/2 transition are discussed. These techniques include segmented laser designs, and the co-doping of laser samples with elements having a large absorption cross section in the 1.06 micron region while being relatively free of absorption in the 0.92 micron region of the spectrum. A system based on Y₂SiO₅ and co-doped with Nd and Sm will be presented as an example of the latter type GSD design along with available experimental results.

Citation Download Citation

R. Beach, R. Solarz, S. Mitchell, L. Brewer, and S. Weinzapfel "Ground State Depleted Laser Experiments", Proc. SPIE 1040, High Power and Solid State Lasers II, (6 July 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.951172

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