Show simple item record

Files in this item

Thumbnail

Item metadata

dc.contributor.advisorDunn, Malcolm H.
dc.contributor.authorHeering, Lea Christina
dc.coverage.spatialiv, 66 p.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-30T16:25:28Z
dc.date.available2017-10-30T16:25:28Z
dc.date.issued2014-03
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/11951
dc.description.abstractThis document summarises a study into the elimination of spatial hole burning in the pump field of a Nd:YAG and PPLN based Intracavity Optical Parametric Oscillator (ICOPO), using the so-called ‘twisted-mode technique’. This approach relies on the manipulation of circulating field polarisation to achieve a spatially uniform electric field intensity throughout the laser gain material, thus removing the root of multi-longitudinal-mode oscillation in homogeneously broadened systems. During the course of this investigation the ‘twisted-mode’ technique was first applied to a basic 1μm Nd:YAG laser, where it proved very successful in facilitating single frequency operation. The laser cavity was then extended to accommodate the ICOPO, which delivered 93.9mW of mid-IR output for 3W of diode pump power. The implementation of the ‘twisted-mode’ technique was not found to have any significant impact on power performance of the device and once again offered substantial improvements in pump field spectral quality. Although the insertion of an etalon was necessary to achieve good frequency control, the associated drop in power was minimal compared to typical losses observed in etalon-narrowed standing-wave configurations. This can be attributed to both the low finesse that was required as well as the absence of gain unsaturated regions within the active medium, as would be observed in a spatially hole burnt system. Whilst further work will have to be carried out to optimise both the frequency behaviour and power performance of the device, the ‘twisted-mode’ technique shows clear potential as an approach to the development of a reliable, narrow line-width mid-IR spectroscopic source based on Intracavity OPO technology.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of St Andrews
dc.subject.lccTA1677.H4
dc.subject.lcshOptical parametric oscillators.en
dc.subject.lcshLasers.en
dc.titleA continuous wave, single frequency intracavity optical parametric oscillator based upon the twisted-mode techniqueen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen_US
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhil Master of Philosophyen_US
dc.publisher.institutionThe University of St Andrewsen_US


This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record