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At least 19 records

Method and circuit for shaping laser output pulses

The invention is a method and circuit for shaping laser output pulses from a laser resonator. A Q-switch and polarizer act in combination to control the loss to the resonator and provide the laser output representative of such loss. An optical diode senses the level of the output pulse and provides an output signal that when amplified is used to control voltage from a supply to provide a control signal which is applied to the Q-switch to control the shape of the output pulse by adjusting its length.

Barnes, Norman P.

Method and circuit for controlling the evolution time interval of a laser output pulse

The invention is a method and circuit for controlling the evolution time interval of a laser output pulse used for making precise spectral measurements. It comprises the means for pumping a laser medium in a resonator that includes a Q-switch and polarizer that act in combination to control the loss in the resonator. A photodiode senses the resulting fluorescence which is applied to a two level Q-switch and polarizer from high to intermediate to substantially zero loss states to control the evolution time interval of the resulting laser output pulse.

Barnes, Norman P.

Method and circuit for shaping laser output pulses

The invention is a method and circuit for shaping laser pulses 17' in which a laser medium 12' in a laser resonator 10' that includes a Q-switch 14' and polarizer 13' which act in combination to control the loss of the resonator 10' and provide the laser output 17' representative of such loss. An optical diode 22' senses the level of the output pulse 17' and provides an output signal 23' that when amplified is used with a control voltage from a supply 29' provide a control signal 19' which is applied to Q-switch 14' to control the shape of the output pulse 17' by adjusting its length.

Barnes, Norman P.

Control of XeF laser output by pulse injection

Injection locking is investigated as a means for control of optical pulse duration and polarization in a XeF laser. Intense short-pulse generation in the ultraviolet is achieved by injection of a low-level 1-ns optical pulse into a XeF oscillator. Control of laser output polarization by injection locking is demonstrated and studied as a function of injected signal level. Enhancement of XeF electric-discharge laser efficiency by injection pulse 'priming' is observed.

Pacala, T. J.

Combined GaAs laser outputs

Technique for combining outputs of array of small semiconductor lasers increases total output power while relaxing fabrication tolerances to make manufacture potentially less costly. Advantage of free-running mode is that spacing between junction-diode lasers is less critical than for conventional, phase-coherently coupled arrays.

Rutz, E. M.

Linewidth characteristics of Raman-shifted dye laser output at 720 and 940 nm

A compact and simple simultaneous multi-wavelength dye laser cavity was developed for a differential absorption technique. Dielectric multilayer interference filters were inserted inside the cavities as tuning elements, and two types of a DIAL system were constucted by using the dye laser tuned with dielectric multilayer filters to measure NO2 concentration. The usefulness of this dye laser was clarified for the differential absoroption technique in outdoor experiments. Some basic designs of the laser cavity with these filters to get simultaneously multi-wavelength output are summarized.

Grossmann, B. E.

Stabilized Nd:YAG laser output

Stabilization system consists of feedback-loop-controlled piezoelectric crystal to one of the reflectors to vary optical path length within laser cavity. Average second harmonic of fundamental 1.06 micrometer laser radiation is detected by integrating detector.

Osmundson, J.

Linewidth characteristics of Raman-shifted dye laser output at 720 and 940 nm

Raman conversion efficiency and line broadening are reported for Stokes operation at 720 and 940 nm, with hydrogen and deuterium as the Raman source, and using an Nd:YAG pumped Quanta-Ray PDL-2 dye laser. The dye laser linewidth is 0.2/cm (FWHM) with the grating alone as an intracavity element, and the conversion efficiency at 400 psi was found to be 40 and 20 percent for outputs of 720 and 940 nm, respectively. Pressure broadening coefficients of (9.2 + or - 0.9) x 10 to the -5th per cm/psi for hydrogen, and 7.7 x 10 to the -5th per cm/psi for deuterium, were obtained in good agreement with previous results. The linewidth at the first Stokes wavelength was shown to be determined by pressure broadening in the Raman medium.

Grossmann, B. E.

Temperature dependence of optically dumped far-infrared (FIR) laser output power

The temperature dependence of the small signal gain and saturation power are derived using temperature-dependent rates in a four-level model. An expression is developed for the output power of a far-infrared oscillator as a function of temperature for both fixed pressure and fixed density. The results are valid in the regime of homogeneous broadening of the rotational transition and Doppler broadening of the pump transition. It is shown that, for most lasers, both the small signal gain and the saturation power decrease with increasing temperature. These effects have the overall result of increasing output power with decreasing temperatures.

Lawandy, N. M.

Temperature dependence of optically pumped far-infrared /FIR/ laser output power

The temperature dependence of the small signal gain and saturation power are derived using temperature-dependent rates in a four-level model. An expression is developed for the output power of a far-infrared oscillator as a function of temperature for both fixed pressure and fixed density. The results are valid in the regime of homogeneous broadening of the rotational transition and Doppler broadening of the pump transition. It is shown that, for most lasers, both the small signal gain and the saturation power decrease with increasing temperature. These effects have the overall result of increasing output power with decreasing temperatures.

Lawandy, N. M.

Linewidth characteristics of Raman-shifted dye laser output at 720 and 940 nm

Existing DIAL systems for water vapor measurements in the troposphere operate at wavelengths near 720 nm. The use of stronger water vapor absorption lines in the range 930 to 960 nm will significantly improve DIAL measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere where water vapor concentrations are low. The generation of light at 940 nm using a frequency doubled Nd:YAG pumped dye laser is inefficient due to the small absorption if infrared dyes at the pump wavelength. However, 940 nm generation utilizing stimulated Raman scattering of dye lasers is attractive because of a potentially high conversion efficiency plus the possibility of retaining the narrow linewidth available from some dye lasers. The Raman conversion efficiency and line broadening are presented for first Stokes operation at 720 and 940 nm using hydrogen and deuterium as the Raman media.

Grossmann, B. E.

Simplified Laser Tuning

Tuning arrangement employs single grating and two planar mirrors. Arrangement of front-surface mirrors and single holographic grating significantly reduces spectral bandwidth and simplified tuning of laser output. Laser used to induce fluorescence in measuring concentrations of trace species, such as OH radical, in atmosphere.

Mcdermid, I. S.

Large-volume multiple-path nuclear-pumped laser

Output of nuclear pumped laser is increased using mirrors, so multiple optical reflections enlarge lasing-mode volume. Design requires comparatively low thermal neutron flux, uses flux more efficiently. Flux for lasing approaches that available from steady-state reactor. Outputs over 100 watts have been reached.

Hohl, F.