Temporally Programmable Hybrid MOPA Laser with Arbitrary Pulse Shape and Frequency Doubling

Abstract

An arbitrary pulse shape by compensating gain saturation in a solid-state Master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) system made up of three Neodymium doped yttrium vanadate (Nd:YVO4) amplifiers is demonstrated. By investigating the amplifier dynamics in detail, car-shaped pulse shapes were obtained with compensated pulse distortion. Desired pulse shapes, such as multiple-step, square, parabolic, and Gaussian pulses, were achieved, with a high peak power level of 41.6 kW and a narrow linewidth less than 0.06 nm. In addition, through second harmonic generation (SHG), a green laser with different pulse shapes was obtained, with a maximum conversion efficiency of 42.6%.

Keywords

• laser amplifiers
• diode-pumped
• pulsed laser
• pulse shaping