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Laser Basics

This document discusses laser basics and components. It explains that a laser works by stimulating emission through optical resonance in a cavity, similar to positive feedback. Key components include mirrors to form a resonant cavity, a gain medium, and pump power. Specific types of cavities and components are discussed, including Fabry-Perot cavities, gain saturation, longitudinal and transverse modes, and methods to control the output beam profile and mode structure.

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87 views

Laser Basics

This document discusses laser basics and components. It explains that a laser works by stimulating emission through optical resonance in a cavity, similar to positive feedback. Key components include mirrors to form a resonant cavity, a gain medium, and pump power. Specific types of cavities and components are discussed, including Fabry-Perot cavities, gain saturation, longitudinal and transverse modes, and methods to control the output beam profile and mode structure.

Uploaded by

usamaumer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Laser basics

Optics, Eugene Hecht, Chpt. 13;


Optical resonator tutorial:
http://www.dewtronics.com/tutorials/lasers/leot/
Laser oscillation
Laser is oscillator
Like servo with positive feedback
Greater than unity gain
Ruby laser example
Laser turn-on and gain saturation
Laser gain and losses
Gain decreases as output
power increases
Saturation
Fabry-Perot cavity for feedback
High reflectivity mirrors
Low loss per round trip
Must remember resonance conditions
round trip path is multiple of
High reflectivity Fabry-Perot cavity
Boundary conditions
field is zero on mirrors
Multiple wavelengths possible
agrees with resonance conditions
Laser longitudinal modes
Classical mechanics analog
Multi-mode laser
Fabry-Perot boundary conditions
Multiple resonant frequencies
Single longitudinal mode lasers
Insert etalon into cavity
Use low reflectivity etalon
low loss
Laser transverse modes
Wave equation looks like harmonic oscillator

Ex: E = E e
-iet


Separate out z dependence


Solutions for x and y are Hermite polynomials
Frequencies of transverse modes
Transverse laser modes
0
2
2
=
|
.
|

\
|
+ V E
c
n
E
e
0
2
2
= + x
m
k
dt
x d
0 2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
E k
c
n
y
E
x
E
z
E
ik
z
E e
Single transverse mode lasers
Put aperture in laser
Create loss for higher order modes
Multi-longitudinal Multi-transverse&long. Single mode
Gaussian beams
Zero order mode is Gaussian
Intensity profile:
beam waist: w
0




confocal parameter: z


far from waist

divergence angle
2 2
/ 2
0
w r
e I I

=
2
2
0
0
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
w
z
w w
t

t
2
0
w
z
R
=
0
w
z
w
t

0 0
637 . 0
2
w w

t

= = O
Gaussian propagation
Power distribution in Gaussian
Intensity distribution:
Experimentally to measure full width at half maximum (FWHM) diameter
Relation is d
FWHM
= w \2 ln2 ~ 1.4 w
Define average intensity
I
avg
= 4 P / (t d
2
FWHM
)
Overestimates peak: I
0
= I
avg
/1.4

2 2
/ 2
0
w r
e I I

=
Resonator options
Best known -- planar, concentric, confocal
Confocal unique
mirror alignment not critical
position is critical
transverse mode frequencies identical
Types of resonators
Special cases

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