0.9-W Raman oscillator

Abstract

Substantial average output powers have been achieved from a Raman oscillator operating at kHz pulse repetition frequencies (PRF’s). The Raman oscillator is composed of a lithium iodate crystal placed inside a Nd : YAlO3 laser; feedback is provided at the Stokes wavelengths by means of mirrors surrounding the crystal. In separate experiments, we have obtained 900-mW average output power from the 1.18-μm first Stokes line at a 3.2-kHz PRF, and 200 mW average output power from the 1.31-μm second Stokes line at a 1-kHz PRF. Pulse lengths were approximately 6 and 2 ns for the 1.18- and 1.31-μm outputs, respectively.