Study of the Gain-Dependent Refractive Index of a CO2 Laser.
Abstract
Results of research directed toward the achievement of a better understanding of the gain-dependent index of refraction of an active CO2 laser medium are presented. Experimentally discovered frequency jumping and gain discontinuity effects in a 3-mirror laser have been studied using a newly developed mathematical model in which it was assumed that there was present a gain-dependent portion of the refractive index of the laser medium. The analytical results are related to the experimental results obtained from a long, 3-mirror, frequency-modulated CO2 laser cavity. It was found that the simple model predicts, qualitatively, the experimental results. Specific results indicate that frequency pushing is the dominant interaction process in a reflective type coupled-cavity laser, and that this process is more dependent upon the direction in which the laser frequency is swept than it is upon the location of the pertinent mode frequencies relative to the line center frequency. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0782983
Entities
People
- Thomas E. Honeycutt
Organizations
- United States Army Aviation and Missile Command