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Hybrid-mode-locked Ce:LiCAF lasers

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posted on 2023-04-13, 05:35 authored by Adam Oliver Sharp

This research project entitled “cerium lasers: ultraviolet, ultrafast, and ultracool” was introduced at the MQ Photonics Research Centre in Macquarie University with the aim of advancing ultrafast ultraviolet lasers based on Ce:LiCAF. This resulted in a new modelocking scheme for Ce:LiCAF lasers, a modified cross-correlation technique to measure the duration of the generated pulses, and characterisation of the spectral behaviour of the laser system. 

Combining a synchronous pumping scheme with Kerr-lens mode-locking led to the first hybrid mode-locking scheme within a Ce:LiCAF laser. Compared with previous results, the addition of this latter mode-locking mechanism decreased the generated pulse duration by more than a factor of 60, from 6 ps to 91 fs. This duration was measured by modifying asynchronous cross-correlation with a simple microscope cover-slip time reference introduced into half of the reference beam profile, dubbed split-beam asynchronous cross-correlation. This new approach determines the measurement time-scale more quickly, on the order of 104, reducing uncertainty. The intra-cavity dispersion of the Ce:LiCAF laser was calculated, and measured experimentally, which enabled Kerr-lens mode-locking. The phenomenon of dispersion tuning was characterised and utilised to determine the amount of intra-cavity dispersion, and as a guide for identifying the zero point, at which there is minimal tuning. Additional dispersive elements were used to dispersion-tune over a range of more than 5 nm in the region of 290 nm. 

The slope efficiency of the hybrid-mode-locked Ce:LiCAF laser was measured to be 9%, with a threshold of 1.0W. A low-transmission plane output coupler was used to achieve this, which also consolidated the output power from the previous four beams, via a near- Brewster’s-angle plate output coupler, into a single beam for the first time. The low threshold achieved using this output coupler enabled the first demonstration of un-chopped operation from the mode-locked Ce:LiCAF laser. 

History

Table of Contents

1 Introduction -- 2 Pulsed lasers -- 3 Ultraviolet pulse generation -- 4 Hybrid-mode-locked Ce:LiCAF laser -- 5 Intra-cavity dispersion management -- 6 Femtosecond Ce:LiCAF laser operation and characterisation -- 7 Conclusion -- A Publications arising from this thesis -- B Phase matching non-linear crystals -- C Curve fitting script -- List of figures -- List of tables -- List of symbols and abbreviations – References

Awarding Institution

Macquarie University

Degree Type

Thesis PhD

Department, Centre or School

Department of Physics and Astronom

Year of Award

2021

Principal Supervisor

David Coutts

Additional Supervisor 1

David Spence

Rights

Copyright: The Author Copyright disclaimer: https://www.mq.edu.au/copyright-disclaimer

Language

English

Extent

216 pages

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