Gain limitations in optical parametric amplifiers
Abstract
Results are reported for experiments conducted to determine the maximum parametric gain in ADP and potassium dideuterium phosphate (KDDP) that can be achieved with 10-ns 266-nm pump pulses without damage. It is found that subnanosecond spiking in the fourth-harmonic pump derived from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser can effectively limit the gains and energy conversion efficiency that can be obtained without damage in ADP and KDDP parametric amplifiers. However, it is shown that low-power CW visible signals can be parametrically amplified by factors up to 1 million to 10 million before the onset of surface damage and that combined parametric/dye amplifiers can provide even higher gains and output energies.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
- Pub Date:
- April 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1109/JQE.1979.1069992
- Bibcode:
- 1979IJQE...15..201M
- Keywords:
-
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Laser Damage;
- Light Amplifiers;
- Parametric Amplifiers;
- Power Gain;
- Yag Lasers;
- Ammonium Phosphates;
- Deuterium Compounds;
- Neodymium Lasers;
- Potassium Phosphates;
- Q Switched Lasers;
- Lasers and Masers