Anisotropic Beam Pumping of a Kerr Lens Modelocked Laser

摘要

Apparatus and methods for anisotropic pumping of a Kerr lens modelocked laser. Direct diode laser pumping of an ultrafast Kerr lens modelocked laser oscillator is accomplished. Diode lasers generate severely anisotropic beams, meaning the pump beam has a higher-beam-quality dimension and a lower-beam-quality dimension. By spatially overlap of the pump beam higher-beam-quality dimension and the KLM laser mode, KLM operation is accomplished. Multiple laser diode pump beams are combined in counterpropagating and same-side configurations.

主权项

1. A direct laser diode pumped, Kerr lens modelocked, laser comprising:
a diode pump laser that generates an anisotropic pump beam, the pump beam having a higher-beam-quality dimension and a lower-beam-quality dimension; an oscillator cavity including a gain medium; and optics for directly coupling the pump beam into the gain medium; the elements constructed and arranged such that when the laser is modelocked, spatial overlap of the pump beam higher-beam-quality dimension and the KLM laser mode is improved, over spatial overlap of the pump beam higher-beam-quality dimension and the continuous wave mode.