Single-longitudinal-mode pumped pulsed-dye amplifier for high-resolution laser spectroscopy.
Rev Sci Instrum
; 91(10): 103002, 2020 Oct 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33138596
ABSTRACT
The In-Gas-jet Laser Ionization and Spectroscopy (IGLIS) technique relies on narrow-bandwidth, high-peak-power, short-pulse-length (≈10 ns), and high-repetition-rate laser pulses to probe, precisely and efficiently, the hyperfine structure of medium-heavy and heavy isotopes, embedded in a supersonic jet. The power and repetition rate requirements of the laser system are met by combining ≈100 W, 8 ns pulse width, 10 kHz commercial NdYAG pump lasers with a single-mode continuous wave seeded Pulsed Dye Amplifier (PDA). The common multi-longitudinal-mode operation of these NdYAG pump lasers causes, however, undesirable frequency sidebands in the output spectrum of the PDA system, hindering the attainable spectral resolution, a correct interpretation, and an accurate analysis of the hyperfine spectra. In this article, a new prototype NdYAG laser is presented, which combined with the PDA system is capable of providing quasi-transform-limited laser pulses at 10 kHz, with only limited losses in laser power. This system reduces any spectral sideband amplitude below a proven upper limit of 0.2% with one order of magnitude extra reduction expected based on simulations. A full characterization of both the NdYAG and PDA laser systems is done by studying the temporal and frequency behavior in detail. This study is finalized by a performance benchmark of this combined laser system in the hyperfine spectroscopy of copper isotopes, showcasing its applicability for future IGLIS studies.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Rev Sci Instrum
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Belgium