Nonlinear Optics Technology. Phase 2. Area 1. Four Wave Mixing Technology. Area 2. Phase Conjugated Solid State Laser Technology
Abstract
Four wave mixing (FWM) phase conjugation was investigated in materials that can operate at diode laser wavelengths. Investigated were atomic cesium vapor, bulk GaAs, multiquantum well (MQW) GaAs/A1GaAs, and intracavity FWM in diode laser waveguides operating above threshold. Conjugate reflectivities up to 154% were observed in cesium for cw pumping at about 100W/ sq. cm, with signal observed over a 30 GHz bandwidth around the 852 nm hyperfine transitions. Self focusing and angular response were also investigated. Backward FWM phase conjugation at room temperature was demonstrated in bulk GaAs and MQW GaAs/A1GaAs for the first time. Reflectivities of about 0.1% were observed in both materials for 4 kW/sq.cm pumping. Results show that the stronger excitonic effects in MQW samples do not help FWM performance when high reflectivity (>10%) is desired because the pump fields required strongly saturate the excitonic component. Conjugate reflectivities > 2 million % were observed for FWM inside the waveguide cavity of diode lasers operating above threshold. The first demonstration of a conjugation capability in diode laser FWM, piston conjugation to correct optical path differences, was also accomplished. Detectivity of FWM was investigated to determine minimum input conditions. A ring oscillator, conjugated power amplifier was constructed and tested. Phase conjugated doubling to produce high beam quality of the second harmonic when there are aberrations in the doubling medium was demonstrated and analyzed theoretically. Rapid turn- on of a solid state laser was modeled to estimate thermal gradients and resulting optical distortion 2 s after start from a standby mode.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 15, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA214643
Entities
People
- C. Hoefer
- G. Harpole
- Jeffrey Brock
- L. Frantz
- M. Caponi