Abstract
An antiresonant ring (ARR) interferometer configuration is introduced for the
characterization of a continuous wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser output. The output of the
ARR device is precisely characterized to determine the gain and loss of a laboratory
CW Nd:YAG laser by using the Findlay-Clay approach. The ARR arm is then
experimentally arranged inside the cavity of an arranged high power side-pumped CW
Nd:YAG laser. A coated beam splitter with 50-50% reflectivity at normal incidence is
placed inside the cavity to provide a wide range of reflectivity from 0 to 100%.
This is performed by a rotatable stage and tilting the beam splitter by 10o with the
steps of 0.05. By changing the input electrical power of the laser pump the
variation of the output laser power is monitored for 20 individual reflectivity of
ARR arm. Average pump threshold power of about 180 W is obtained. With the help of
the derived equations and obtained threshold power, small signal gain and loss
associated with the emerging beam is estimated. It is verified that the former is
very dependent to the input parameters. Laser efficiency is also measures 5.6% which
is quite comparable with the reported values.
© 2012 Chinese Optics Letters
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