Frequency-stabilized Nd:YVO4 thin-disk laser

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 29 - 33
• Main Authors: Stoehr, H., Rehbein, N., Douillet, A., Friebe, J., Keupp, J., Mehlstäubler, T.E., Wolff, H., Rasel, E.M., Ertmer, W., Gao, J., Giesen, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.04.2008; Springer
• Subjects: Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation; Density; Doped-insulator lasers and other solid state lasers; Dynamical laser instabilities; noisy laser behavior; Engineering; Error analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency conversion ; harmonic generation, including high-order harmonic generation; Frequency doubling; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Holes; Laser optical systems: design and operation; Lasers; Magnesium; Nonlinear optics; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Optics; Signal measurement; Spectra; Frequency Noise; Fourier Frequency; Fast Fourier Transform Analyser; Disk Laser; Reference Cavity; Single frequency laser; Phosphates; Second harmonic generation; Output power; Poled material; Line widths; Laser frequency stability; Potassium Compounds; Magnesium Atoms; Laser noise; Solid state lasers; Optical frequency conversion; Spectral density; Quaternary compounds; Nonlinear optics; Neodymium lasers; Titanyl Compounds
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-008-2954-1

We have developed a Nd:YVO 4 thin-disk laser at 914 nm with single-frequency operation and active frequency stabilization to a low-finesse reference cavity. The spectral density of laser frequency noise is analysed by means of noise measurements at the error point of the frequency control loop. To address the 3 1 S 0 →3 3 P 1 magnesium intercombination line at 457 nm, we use an external frequency doubling stage based on periodically poled KTiOPO 4 for the generation of more than 150-mW output power at 457 nm. Optical beat signal measurements at 457 nm with a frequency-stable dye laser show a short-time line width of the thin-disk laser of less than 100 kHz.