Continuous-wave, single-pass, single-frequency second-harmonic-generation at 266 nm based on birefringent-multicrystal scheme

We report the implementation of a compact cascaded multicrystal scheme based on birefringent crystals in critical phase-matching, for the generation of continuous-wave (cw) radiation in the deep ultraviolet (UV). The approach comprises a cascade of 4 single-pass second-harmonic-generation (SHG) stages in β-BaB2O4 (BBO) pumped by a single-frequency cw green source at 532 nm. A deep-UV cw output power of 37.7 mW at 266 nm has been obtained with a high passive power stability of 0.12% rms over more than 4 hours. Characterization and optimization of the system in each stage has been systematically performed. Angular phase-matching acceptance bandwidth under tight focusing in BBO, and spectral properties of the deep-UV radiation, have been studied. Theoretical calculations for SHG in the cascaded scheme based on birefringent phase-matching have been performed, and enhancement in UV power compared to single-stage single-pass scheme are studied. Theoretical comparison of BBO with other potential crystals for deep-UV generation in cascaded multicrystal scheme is also presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

All-fiber fourth and fifth harmonic generation from a single source

All-fiber fourth and fifth harmonic generation from a single source is demonstrated experimentally and analyzed theoretically. Light from a fully fiberized high power master oscillator power amplifier is launched into a periodically poled silica fiber generating the second harmonic. The output is then sent through two optical microfibers that generate the third and fourth harmonic, respectively, via four wave mixing (FWM). For a large range of pump wavelengths in the silica optical transmission window, phase matched FWM can be achieved in the microfibers at two different diameters with relatively wide fabrication tolerances of up to ±5 nm. Our simulations indicate that by optimizing the second harmonic generation efficiency and the diameters and lengths of the two microfibers, conversion efficiencies to the fourth harmonic in excess of 25% are theoretically achievable

Generation of Tunable Narrow Bandwidth Nanosecond Pulses in the Deep Ultraviolet for Efficient Optical Pumping and High Resolution Spectroscopy

Nanosecond optical pulses with high power and spectral brightness in the deep ultraviolet (UV) region have been produced by sum frequency mixing of nearly transform-limited-bandwidth IR light originating from a home-built injection-seeded ring cavityoptical parametric oscillator(OPO) and the fourth harmonic beam of an injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser used simultaneously to pump the OPO with the second harmonic. We demonstrate UV output, tunable from 204 to 207 nm, which exhibits pulse energies up to 5 mJ with a bandwidth better than [Math Processing Error]. We describe how the approach shown in this paper can be extended to wavelengths shorter than 185 nm. The injection-seeded OPO provides high conversion efficiency ([Math Processing Error] overall energy conversion) and superior beam quality required for highly efficient downstream mixing where sum frequencies are generated in the UV. The frequency stability of the system is excellent, making it highly suitable for optical pumping. We demonstrate high resolution spectroscopy as well as optical pumping using laser-induced fluorescence and stimulated emission pumping, respectively, in supersonic pulsed molecular beams of nitric oxide

Generation of Tunable Narrow Bandwidth Nanosecond Pulses in the Deep Ultraviolet for Efficient Optical Pumping and High Resolution Spectroscopy

Nanosecond optical pulses with high power and spectral brightness in the deep ultraviolet (UV) region have been produced by sum frequency mixing of nearly transform-limited-bandwidth IR light originating from a home-built injection-seeded ring cavityoptical parametric oscillator(OPO) and the fourth harmonic beam of an injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser used simultaneously to pump the OPO with the second harmonic. We demonstrate UV output, tunable from 204 to 207 nm, which exhibits pulse energies up to 5 mJ with a bandwidth better than [Math Processing Error]. We describe how the approach shown in this paper can be extended to wavelengths shorter than 185 nm. The injection-seeded OPO provides high conversion efficiency ([Math Processing Error] overall energy conversion) and superior beam quality required for highly efficient downstream mixing where sum frequencies are generated in the UV. The frequency stability of the system is excellent, making it highly suitable for optical pumping. We demonstrate high resolution spectroscopy as well as optical pumping using laser-induced fluorescence and stimulated emission pumping, respectively, in supersonic pulsed molecular beams of nitric oxide

A contribution to the development of wide band-gap nonlinear optical and laser materials

The primary focus of this work is on examining structure-property relationships of interest for high-power nonlinear optical and laser crystals. An intuitive and simply illustrated method for assessing the nonlinear optical potential of structurally characterized noncentrosymmetric materials is introduced. This method is applied to materials including common quartz and tourmaline and then extended to synthetic materials including borates, silicates, aluminates, and phosphates. Particularly, the contributions of symmetric tetrahedral and triangular anionic groups are inspected. It is shown that both types of groups significantly contribute to the optical frequency converting abilities of noncentrosymmetric crystals. In this study, several known materials are included as well as several new materials. The roles of the orientation, composition, and packing density of these anionic groups are also discussed. The structures and optical properties of the known materials BPO₄, NaAlO₂, LaCa₄O(BO₃)₃, and tourmaline; the new compounds La₀.₈Y₀.₂Sc₃(BO₃)₄ and Ba₂B₁₀O₁₇; and the laser host Sr₃Y₀.₇₅Yb₀.₂₅(B0₃)₃ are described

High-power deep-UV laser for improved and novel experiments on hydrogen

2019 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.This dissertation details the design, performance, and cavity enhancement of a novel, high-power coherent 243.1 nm laser system, and through simulations, its ability to trap hydrogen in a magic wavelength optical trap. This wavelength of light is necessary to address the 1S–2S two-photon transition in hydrogen, and the primary motivation behind development of this laser system is obtaining high enough 243.1 nm powers for two-photon cooling of hydrogen. Due to the light mass of hydrogen, high precision spectroscopy of hydrogen is limited by unwanted motional effects, which could be mitigated with laser cooling and confinement in an optical trap. Besides laser cooling, a high power deep-UV laser system at this wavelength has great utility for improving spectroscopy of hydrogen and other exotic simple systems. High-power fiber lasers from 1-1.2 µm have flourished as a result of advances in ytterbium(Yb)-doped fiber amplifiers. In addition, high-power Yb-fiber lasers between 975-980 nm have also been developed—a notable accomplishment due to gain competition in the > 1 µm spectral region. These systems initially lacked sufficiently narrow spectral bandwidth for efficient harmonic generation, motivating further development since there is significant interest in frequency doubling and quadrupling these sources to produce coherent blue radiation and deep-UV radiation. Here, we generate coherent, high-power deep-UV radiation through frequency quadrupling of a high-power, highly coherent Yb-fiber amplifier at 972.5 nm. The Yb-fiber amplifier system consists of a frequency stabilized master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) that can be referenced to a coherent frequency comb. This MOPA can be amplified to > 10 W of narrow linewidth power at 972.5 nm in the Yb-fiber amplifier. This is a technically challenging and notable result for this wavelength as gain is much more readily obtained in Yb-doped fibers at the absorption/emission cross-section peak near 975 nm and in the > 1 µm spectral region where the emission cross-section is much larger than the absorption cross-section. This system successfully combated unwanted gain at these wavelengths by using a relatively short (≈ 10 cm), angle-polished Yb-fiber with a large core-cladding ratio, along with aggressive spectral filtering and large amounts of seed power at 972.5 nm. With this narrow linewidth Yb-fiber amplifier, efficient frequency conversion of high power 972-976 nm radiation to 243-244 nm radiation is possible through intracavity doubling. Through successive resonant doubling stages, this system demonstrates > 1 W of highly stable, continuous-wave (CW) 243.1 nm power. To the author's knowledge, this is a record amount of CW deep-UV power below 266 nm, and is made possible thanks to advances in the production of a relatively new non-linear crystal for robust deep-UV generation, cesium lithium borate (CLBO). The precise frequency control of this radiation is established via excitation of the 1S–2S transition in hydrogen, and the viability for two-photon laser cooling on this transition is shown through enhancement of this power to > 30 W of intracavity power in a deep-UV enhancement cavity. At these powers, UV-induced mirror degradation was observed and mitigated by flushing the enhancement cavity mirrors with ultra-pure oxygen. With these powers, rapid two-photon laser cooling of a hydrogen atomic beam approaches reality. The 243.1 nm powers offered by this laser system also offer unique methods for capturing hydrogen in an optical trap. Explored via simulations, single optical scatter capture of hydrogen in a magic wavelength dipole trap is demonstrated, promising exciting new avenues for high precision spectroscopy of hydrogen