Abstract
The capability of a thin slab of Yb3+:LSO to be tuned within a Q-switched cavity is demonstrated in a range of laser wavelengths from 1052 to 1065 nm. Using a side-pump architecture, to create a linear gain-stripe in the crystal of which the dimensions can be finely controlled, we generate 50 to 150 ns-wide pulses in the range 1–5 mJ. These experimental data are fitted with the theoretical predictions by means of comprehensive modeling. Our model involves all the relevant parameters for the discussion of energetic, spectral and spatial issues of interest to evaluate the potential of this quasi-three-level material in the field of broadband regenerative amplification. Thanks to pure homogeneous broadening, this finally helps us to size a consistent pump design dedicated to the amplification of broad-bandwidth pulses up to a few milli-joules near 1053–1056 nm, the range of wavelengths involved in ICF.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
E. Hugonnot, G. Deschaseaux, O. Hartmann, H. Coïc, Design of PETAL multi petawatt high-energy laser front end based on optical parametric chirped pulse amplification. Appl. Opt. 46(33), 8181–8187 (2007)
J. Nees, S. Biswal, F. Druon, J. Faure, M. Nantel, G. Mourou, A. Nishimura, H. Takuma, J. Itatani, J.C. Chanteloup, C. Hönninger, Ensuring compactness, reliability and scalability for the next generation of high-field lasers. IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4(2), 376–384 (1998)
M. Jacquemet, C. Jacquemet, N. Janel, F. Druon, F. Balembois, P. Georges, J. Petit, B. Viana, D. Vivien, B. Ferrand, Efficient laser action of Yb:LSO and Yb:YSO oxyorthosilicates crystals under high-power diode-pumping. Appl. Phys. B 80, 171–176 (2005)
L. Zheng, G. Zhao, C. Yan, X. Xu, L. Su, Y. Dong, J. Xu, Raman spectroscopic investigation of pure and ytterbium-doped rare earth silicate crystals. J. Raman Spectrosc. 38, 1421–1428 (2007)
L. Zheng, G. Zhao, C. Yan, G. Yao, X. Xu, L. Su, J. Xu, Growth and spectroscopic characteristics of Yb:LPS single crystal. J. Cryst. Growth 304, 441–447 (2007)
G. Bourdet, Comparison of pulse amplification performances in longitudinally pumped Ytterbium doped materials. Opt. Commun. 200(1–6), 331–342 (2001)
J. Du, X. Liang, Y. Xu, R. Li, C. Yan, G. Zhao, L. Su, J. Xu, Z. Xu, Continuous-wave diode-pumped Yb3+:LSO tunable laser. Proc. SPIE 6269, 627963 (2007)
Y. Xu, X. Jiang, J. Du, C. Yan, L. Su, G. Zhao, J. Xu, Efficient tunable diode-pumped CW Yb:LSO laser. Chin. Opt. Lett. 5, S27–S28 (2007)
X. Shi-Xiang, L. Wen-Xue, H. Qiang, Z. Hui, Z. He-Ping, Efficient laser-diode end-pumped passively Q-switched mode-locked Yb:LSO laser based on SESAM. Chin. Phys. Lett. 25(2), 548–551 (2008)
C. Hönninger, I. Johannsen, M. Moser, G. Zhang, A. Giesen, U. Keller, Diode-pumped thin-disk Yb:YAG regenerative amplifier. Appl. Phys. B 65, 423–426 (1997)
C. Hönninger, R. Paschotta, M. Graf, F. Morier-Genoud, G. Zhang, M. Moser, S. Biswal, J. Nees, A. Braun, G. Mourou, I. Johannsen, A. Giesen, W. Seeber, U. Keller, Ultrafast ytterbium-doped bulk lasers and laser amplifiers. Appl. Phys. B 69, 3–17 (1999)
J. Kawanaka, K. Yamakawa, H. Nishioka, K.-I. Ueda, 30 mJ, diode-pumped, chirped-pulse Yb:YLF regenerative amplifier. Opt. Lett. 28(21), 2121–2123 (2003)
H. Liu, S. Biswal, J. Paye, J. Nees, G. Mourou, C. Hönninger, U. Keller, Directly diode-pumped millijoule subpicosecond Yb :glass regenerative amplifier. Opt. Lett. 24(13), 917–919 (1999)
S. Biswal, J. Itatani, J. Nees, G. Mourou, Efficient energy extraction below the saturation fluence in a low-gain low-loss regenerative chirped-pulse amplifier. IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 4(2), 421–425 (1998)
P. Raybaut, F. Druon, F. Balembois, P. Georges, R. Gaumé, B. Viana, D. Vivien, Directly diode-pumped Yb3+:SrY4 (SiO4)3O regenerative amplifier. Opt. Lett. 28(22), 2195–2197 (2003)
H. Liu, J. Nees, G. Mourou, Directly diode-pumped Yb:KY(WO4)2 regenerative amplifiers. Opt. Lett. 27(9), 722–724 (2002)
J. Du, X. Liang, Y. Xu, R. Li, Z. Xu, Tunable and efficient diode-pumped Yb3+:GYSO laser. Opt. Express 14(8), 3333 (2006)
M. Siebold, M. Hornung, S. Bock, J. Hein, M.C. Kaluza, J. Wemans, R. Uecker, Broad-band regenerative laser amplification in ytterbium-doped calcium fluoride (Yb:CaF2). Appl. Phys. B 89, 543–547 (2007)
F. Thibault, D. Pelenc, F. Druon, Y. Zaouter, M. Jacquemet, P. Georges, Efficient diode-pumped Yb3+:Y2SiO5 and Yb3+:Lu2SiO5 high-power femtosecond laser operation. Opt. Lett. 31(10), 1555–1557 (2006)
O. Morice, MIRO: Complete modeling and software for pulse amplification and propagation in high-power laser systems. Optim. Eng. 42(6), 1530–1541 (2003)
A. Jolly, E. Artigaut, Theoretical design for the optimization of a material’s geometry in diode-pumped high-energy Yb3+:YAG lasers and its experimental validation at 0.5–1 J. Appl. Opt. 43(32), 6016–6022 (2004)
P. Raybaut, F. Balembois, F. Druon, P. Georges, Numerical and experimental study of gain narrowing in Ytterbium-based regenerative amplifiers. IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 41(3), 415–425 (2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
About this article
Cite this article
Jolly, A., Bourdet, G., Coic, H. et al. Gain versus tuning issues to Q-switch with Yb3+:LSO and amplify broad-bandwidth pulses. Appl. Phys. B 97, 85–94 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-009-3577-x
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-009-3577-x