Efficient intra-cavity frequency doubled, diode-pumped, Q-switched alexandrite laser directly emitting in the UV

Optics Express, vol. 32, pp. 7553

Abstract

We present an intra-cavity frequency doubled Q-switched diode-pumped alexandrite ring-laser directly emitting in the UV at 386 nm. Using LBO as nonlinear crystal, the laser yields a pulse energy up to 3 mJ at 500 Hz with an excellent beam quality of M 2 = 1.1. The pulse length is about 920 ns, allowing for very narrow bandwidth in single longitudinal mode operation. The optical-to-optical efficiency for the UV laser is > 9% and almost unchanged compared to the fundamental laser. First injection-seeding experiments show single longitudinal mode operation. The parameters of the laser are suitable for the use as an emitter in a multi-purpose atmospheric Doppler lidar system.

Authors 6

1. Sarah Scheuer
2. Alexander Munk
3. Michael Strotkamp
4. C. Haefner Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University LLT - Chair for Laser Technology

5. Josef Höffner
   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics

6. Jan Froh
   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics