Multiple-prism grating laser oscillator

<h2 id="excitation">Excitation</h2>
Multiple-prism grating laser oscillators can be excited either electrically, as in the case of gas lasers and semiconductor lasers,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> or optically, as in the case of crystalline lasers and organic dye lasers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> In the case of optical excitation it is often necessary to match the polarization of the excitation laser to the polarization preference of the multiple-prism grating oscillator.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> This can be done using a <a href="/facts/Polarization_rotator/LXmbqKhr">polarization rotator</a> thus improving the laser conversion efficiency.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h2 id="linewidth-performance">Linewidth performance</h2>
The <a href="/facts/Multiple-prism_dispersion_theory/I3vM0IAb">multiple-prism dispersion theory</a> is applied to design these beam expanders either in additive configuration, thus adding or subtracting their dispersion to the dispersion of the grating, or in compensating configuration (yielding zero dispersion at a design wavelength) thus allowing the diffraction grating to control the tuning characteristics of the laser cavity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> Under those conditions, that is, zero dispersion from the multiple-prism beam expander, the single-pass <a href="/facts/Laser_linewidth/A86VJ6dL">laser linewidth</a> is given by<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a>

Δ
        λ
        ≈
        Δ
        θ
        
          
            (
            
              M
              
                
                  
                    ∂
                    θ
                  
                  
                    ∂
                    λ
                  
                
              
            
            )
          
          
            −
            1
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle \Delta \lambda \approx \Delta \theta \left(M{\partial \theta  \over \partial \lambda }\right)^{-1}}

where 
 
 
 
 Δ
 θ
 
 
 {\displaystyle \Delta \theta }
 
 is the beam divergence and M is the beam magnification provided by the beam expander that multiplies the angular dispersion provided by the diffraction grating. In the case of multiple-prism beam expanders this factor can be as high as 100–200.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>
When the dispersion of the multiple-prism expander is not equal to zero, then the single-pass linewidth is given by<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a>

Δ
        λ
        ≈
        Δ
        θ
        
          
            (
            
              M
              
                
                  
                    ∂
                    θ
                  
                  
                    ∂
                    λ
                  
                
              
              +
              
                
                  
                    ∂
                    
                      ϕ
                      
                        2
                        ,
                        m
                      
                    
                  
                  
                    ∂
                    λ
                  
                
              
            
            )
          
          
            −
            1
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle \Delta \lambda \approx \Delta \theta \left(M{\partial \theta  \over \partial \lambda }+{\partial \phi _{2,m} \over \partial \lambda }\right)^{-1}}

where the first differential refers to the angular dispersion from the grating and the second differential refers to the overall <a href="/facts/Multiple-prism_dispersion_theory/I3vM0IAb">dispersion from the multiple-prism beam expander</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>
Optimized solid-state multiple-prism grating laser oscillators have been shown, by <a href="/facts/F._J._Duarte/qSlUlu4D">Duarte</a>, to generate pulsed single-longitudinal-mode emission limited only by <a href="/facts/Heisenberg%2527s_uncertainty_principle/UUSoSp4T">Heisenberg's uncertainty principle</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a> The <a href="/facts/Laser_linewidth/A86VJ6dL">laser linewidth</a> in these experiments is reported as 
 
 
 
 Δ
 ν
 
 
 {\displaystyle \Delta \nu }
 
 ≈ 350 MHz (or 
 
 
 
 Δ
 λ
 
 
 {\displaystyle \Delta \lambda }
 
 ≈ 0.0004 nm at 590 nm) in pulses ~ 3 ns wide, at power levels in the kW regime.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a>

<h2 id="applications">Applications</h2>
Applications of these tunable narrow-linewidth lasers include:

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Coherent_anti-Stokes_Raman_spectroscopy/BDHVUvnd">Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy</a> and combustion diagnostics<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/LIDAR/b9SPUmLM">LIDAR</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a></li>
<li>Laser <a href="/facts/Spectroscopy/mj71FuNK">spectroscopy</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Atomic_vapor_laser_isotope_separation/53aWEVHC">Atomic vapor laser isotope separation</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Dye_lasers/IRw09pbC">Dye lasers</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Solid_state_dye_lasers/N65Sq0TM">Solid state dye lasers</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Optical_cavity/BITPG3ga">Laser cavity</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Laser_linewidth/A86VJ6dL">Laser linewidth</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Multiple-prism_dispersion_theory/I3vM0IAb">Multiple-prism dispersion theory</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Polarization_rotator/LXmbqKhr">Polarization rotator</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Tunable_laser/CrBKz2S6">Tunable lasers</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.tunablelasers.com/laseroscillators.htm">Diagrams of MPG laser oscillators</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">F. J. Duarte and J. A. Piper, A double-prism beam expander for pulsed dye lasers, Opt. Commun. 35, 100-104 (1980). <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">F. J. Duarte and J. A. Piper, A prism preexpanded grazing incidence pulsed dye laser, Appl. Opt. 20, 2113-2116 (1981). <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">F. J. Duarte and J. A. Piper, Narrow linewidth high prf copper laser-pumped dye-laser oscillators, Appl. Opt. 23, 1391-1394 (1984). <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">F. J. Duarte, Multiple-prism Littrow and grazing incidence pulsed CO2 lasers, Appl. Opt. 24, 1244-1245 (1985). <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">R. C. Sze and D. G. Harris, Tunable excimer lasers, in Tunable Lasers Handbook, F. J. Duarte (Ed.) (Academic, New York, 1995) Chapter 3. <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">P. Zorabedian, Characteristics of a grating-external-cavity semiconductor laser containing intracavity prism beam expanders, J. Lightwave Tech. 10, 330–335 (1992). <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">P. Zorabedian, Tunable external cavity semiconductor lasers, in Tunable Lasers Handbook, F. J. Duarte (Ed.) (Academic, New York, 1995) Chapter 8. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">T. M. Shay and F. J. Duarte, in Tunable Laser Applications, 2nd Ed., F. J. Duarte (Ed.) (CRC, New York, 2009) Chapter 9. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">F. J. Duarte, Narrow-linewidth pulsed dye laser oscillators, in Dye Laser Principles (Academic, New York, 1990) Chapter 4. <a href="/wiki/F._J._Duarte" target="_blank">/wiki/F._J._Duarte</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">F. J. Duarte, Tunable Laser Optics, 2nd Ed. (CRC, New York, 2015). <a href="http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com" target="_blank">http://www.tunablelaseroptics.com</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">F. J. Duarte, Multiple-prism grating solid-state dye laser oscillator: optimized architecture, Appl. Opt. 38, 6347-6349 (1999). <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">F. J. Duarte, Multiple-prism grating solid-state dye laser oscillator: optimized architecture, Appl. Opt. 38, 6347-6349 (1999). <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">R. J. Hall and A. C. Eckbreth, Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy: applications to combustion diagnostics, in Laser Applications (Academic, New York, 1984) pp. 213-309. <a href="/wiki/Coherent_anti-Stokes_Raman_spectroscopy" target="_blank">/wiki/Coherent_anti-Stokes_Raman_spectroscopy</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">W. B. Grant, Lidar for atmospheric and hydrospheric studies, in Tunable Laser Applications, 1st Ed. (Marcel-Dekker, New York, 1995) Chapter 7. <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">W. Demtröder, Laserspektroscopie: Grundlagen und Techniken, 5th Ed. (Springer, Berlin, 2007). <a href="/wiki/W._Demtr%C3%B6der" target="_blank">/wiki/W._Demtr%C3%B6der</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">W. Demtröder, Laser Spectroscopy: Basic Principles, 4th Ed. (Springer, Berlin, 2008). <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:29">S. Singh, K. Dasgupta, S. Kumar, K. G. Manohar, L. G. Nair, U. K. Chatterjee, High-power high-repetition-rate capper-vapor-pumped dye laser, Opt. Eng. 33, 1894-1904 (1994). <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:30">A. Sugiyama, T. Nakayama, M. Kato, Y. Maruyama, T. Arisawa, Characteristics of a pressure-tuned single-mode dye laser oscillator pumped by a copper vapor oscillator, Opt. Eng. 35, 1093-1097 (1996). <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Multiple-prism grating laser oscillator open-in-new

Multiple-prism grating laser oscillator