Publication: Design principles of q-preserving multipass-cavity femtosecond lasers
Program
KU-Authors
KU Authors
Co-Authors
Kowalevicz, A.M.
Zare, A.T.
Fujimoto, J.G.
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Embargo Status
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Abstract
We describe a new class of femtosecond laser cavity designs that are based on a Herriott-type multipass cavity (MPC) to effectively increase the length of a standard laser resonator. MPC laser designs can be used to increase the output pulse energies or to make more compact resonator configurations. A general theory for MPC lasers is developed by analyzing a periodic optical system, and the conditions are established for the case in which the q parameter of a Gaussian beam is left invariant after a single transit through the system. On the basis of this analysis, we determine the design criteria for two-mirror q-preserving MPCs. Practical laser cavity choices are presented and their trade-offs are examined. We also discuss various experimental setups that use these novel MPC designs to increase pulse energies while maintaining compact cavities.
Source
Publisher
The Optical Society (OSA) Publishing
Subject
Physics
Citation
Has Part
Source
Journal of The Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics
Book Series Title
Edition
DOI
10.1364/JOSAB.23.000760