Intrinsically stable high-power single longitudinal mode laser using spatial hole burning free gain
At a Glance
Section titled āAt a Glanceā| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2016-08-02 |
| Journal | Optica |
| Authors | Oliver Lux, Soumya Sarang, OndÅej Kitzler, David J. Spence, Richard P. Mildren |
| Institutions | Macquarie University |
| Citations | 78 |
Abstract
Section titled āAbstractāA fundamental advantage of lasers is their ability to produce a large number of photons in a single optical mode, yet this is achieved in only a minor fraction of devices due to the instability mechanism called spatial hole burning. Here, we exploit the spatial hole burning free nature of a stimulated scattering gain medium to demonstrate single longitudinal mode (SLM) operation in a generic standing wave cavity. A continuous wave diamond Raman oscillator with multi-Watt-level output power and a frequency stability of 80 MHz is demonstrated without use of additional mode-selective elements. Mode stability is addressed by considering the coupling of the Stokes power with thermally induced optical path length changes in the gain medium. The results foreshadow a novel approach for greatly extending the power and wavelength range of SLM laser sources, and with potential advantages for achieving sub-Poissonian intensity noise and sub-Schawlow-Townes linewidths.