Low timing jitter, single frequency, polarized laser

摘要

A laser system includes a first laser diode (110) configured to generate first light in a first direction along an optical path; a laser resonator (130) having a gain medium (131), anisotropic saturable absorber (134), and a wavelength selective outcoupler (140) positioned in the optical path upon which the first light impinges a first side thereof for pulsed pumping of the gain medium (131), a second laser diode (170) configured to generate second light in a second direction along the optical path toward a second side of the resonator, passing through the wavelength selective outcoupler (140) unimpeded and being absorbed by the saturable absorber element (134), wherein the second light has a polarization corresponding to the orientation of the saturable absorber (134); the wavelength selective outcoupler (140) being configured to only allow third light of a predetermined wavelength to have feedback in the laser resonator, achieve gain in the resonator, and be emitted from the laser resonator. Via the second light the polarization of the laser light is controlled and timing jitter is reduced.