Issue Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. Volume 40, Number 3, December 2007 Page(s) 275 - 291 Section Laser and Optics DOI 10.1051/epjap:2007165 Published online 13 December 2007

Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 40, 275-291 (2007)
DOI: 10.1051/epjap:2007165

Modeling a nanosecond quasi-Fourier-transform limited Ti:Sa laser source

P. Dupré

Laser Spectroscopy Facility, Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 W 18th Avenue, 43210, Columbus Ohio, USA

pd520@york.ac.uk

(Received: 30 May 2007 / Received in final form: 12 September 2007 / Accepted: 19 September 2007 / Published online: 13 December 2007)

Abstract
We recently setup a high energy, tunable, injection seeded Ti:Sapphire laser source whose implementation was reported in [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 033102 (2007)]. The analysis of the spectral linewidth has demonstrated that the pulses were time Fourier-transform limited. The present paper reports on the modeling of this source with the aim of understanding the energy conversion in the injected as well as in the free run regimes. The experimental lasing threshold, output energy, slope efficiencies, buildup time, and pulse duration are compared to the analytical solution obtained by solving the laser rate equations. The developed model deals with the spatial dependence of the photon and population inversion densities, the physical properties of the Ti:Sa medium, and the unstable resonator (based on a super-Gaussian output coupler). The energy-related as well as the temporal features are discussed. The use of a squared asymmetrical hyperbolic secant function to describe the temporal pulse shapes is justified. The pulse durations exhibit a simple analytical shape when they are plotted versus the output pulse energy. The model is applied to experimental data obtained at different wavelengths by tuning the laser amplifier previously described. It can readily be applied to other pulsed Ti:Sapphire sources.

PACS
42.55.Ah - General laser theory.
42.55.-f - Lasers.
42.60.Da - Resonators, cavities, amplifiers, arrays, and rings.
42.60.-v - Laser optical systems: design and operation.
42.55.Rz - Doped-insulator lasers and other solid state lasers.

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