Influence of transverse feedback on an optically pumped mirrorless sub-mm laser

• Published in: Infrared physics Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 405 - 412
• Main Author: Plettl, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Elsevier B.V 01.11.1988; Oxford Pergamon Press; New York, NY
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Gas lasers including excimer and metal-vapor lasers; Lasers; Optics; Physics; Water; Gas laser; Isotopic species; Optical pumping; Laser pumping; Submillimetric wave
• ISSN: 0020-0891
• DOI: 10.1016/0020-0891(88)90067-X

The experimental study of short mirrorless 496 μm CH 3F and 385 μm D 2O lasers demonstrates the strong influence of transverse feedback on the emitted pulses in forward direction. The increase of transverse feedback leads to a new simple and passive method for pulse shortening, tail suppression and improvement of pulse structure without significant loss of sub-millimeter sub-mm peak power. Using a 0.4 J CO 2 pump laser, monochromatic, linear polarized kW pulses with some 10 ns pulse length are observed. The reliability of tail elimination is tested with a highly sensitive superconducting bolometer detector. The new quenching method allows the generation of short, smooth single-pulses and offers other possibilities for the development and application of mirrorless sub-mm lasers.