Multiple-frequency injection-seeded nanosecond pulsed laser without parasitic intensity modulation

Abstract

Thanks to a phase-modulated injection seeder, we report the operation of a nanosecond Nd:YAG Q-switched laser with pulses having both a large spectral bandwidth and a smooth temporal waveform. Because of the smooth temporal waveform, such pulses allow, for instance, reducing the impact of the Kerr effect and, because of the large spectral bandwidth, suppressing stimulated Brillouin scattering. We conducted a parametric study of the features of the generated pulses versus the injection conditions. We show that, as opposed to the central frequency (wavelength) of the seeder, the phase modulation frequency has to be carefully chosen, but it is not a critical parameter and does not require any particular feedback.