Solid state laser with superbroadband or control generation spectrum

Abstract

The subject invention relates to a new regime of lasing--superbroadband or pre-assigned spectral composition lasing. A new cavity construction and application of room temperature operable LiF color center crystals provide generation with a spectral width in one pulse practically coinciding with the luminescence spectrum of the active medium. The innovation consists of the pumping means, providing a volumetric pumping, of the active medium with a spatial profile and dimensions of the pumped zone of the crystal, interconnected with the desired spectral width, dispersion of the grating and focus of the intracavity focusing element, the means for separating from the emission radiation desired wavelengths, means for directing the radiation of the desired wavelengths through multiple passes through the active medium, radiation of different wavelengths being passed through different associated trajectories in the cavity and active medium to stimulate emissions at the desired wavelengths and means for suppressing the secondary off-axis laser modes to avoid mode competition thereby maximizing the amplification of the desired spectral components. In addition to this a realization of the superbroadband radiation frequency doubling by means of simultaneous disperse compensation of different phase matching angles in one nonlinear crystal is described.