Laser Power and Oscillation

Lets begin by deriving an

expression for the continuous wave
(cw) power generated as a function
of pump rate.
R
1
L
R
2
I
out

int
!
"
! I
sat
#here we are now inc$uding $osses
interna$ to the cavity and
a
and
b
represent transmission $osses.
%"
&ain
&ain
'irror 1
'irror 2
ransmission Loss
In the gain medium(

+
+
d)
dI
I
1
d)
dI
I
1
%1
*nd
+
+
+ +

,
_

+
+

I
I
I I
1
I
d)
dI
sat
"
+oth ,waves-
contribute to saturation
*nd

,
_

+
+

I
I
I I
1
I
d)
dI
sat
"
where the $oss term inc$udes both
distributed $osses in the $aser
medium and window $osses.
%2
hat is(
b a
L L
e e
int


or
{ }
b a
L
e $n
L
1
int


) $n(
L
1
b a int

RIGRODS ANALYSIS
If
int
. "! the exact so$ution for the
output intensity was derived by
Rigrod to be(
%/
{ }

,
_

'

,
_

'

,
_

2
1
2
1
1
2
a
2
2
b
2 1
2
b
2
a
2 1
2
b
2
a
" 2 b sat
out
R
R
1 R R 1
R R
1
$n
2
1
L ) R 1 ( I
I
WHEW!
Lets chec0 this for a particu$ar case
and see if it ma0es sense.
Let
a
.
b
. 11 R
1
. 1 (i.e.! no
$osses2). hen3

,
_

,
_

'

2
1
2
1
2 2
1
2 " 2 sat
out
R 1 R 1
R $n
2
1
L ) R 1 ( I
I
%4
5r
{

1
2
2 before had we
what is his
" sat out
R $n
2
1
L I I

+ut
1
2 6
R $n
L 2
1


7o

'

1 L I I
6
"
6 sat out
8
&ain
Laser
5utput
R
2
R
1
. 1""9
%:
MORAL:
;or no $osses in the cavity!
output power is maximum when R
2
is $arge (but < 1). his is necessary
to increase I and extract energy
stored in the upper $aser $eve$.
If "! then an optima$ va$ue
for R
2
exists. If I becomes too
$arge! $osses (and not power
extraction) dominate.
%=
Review(
Satration and Laser Power
(1) he maximum gain or inversion
density a $aser system can have
is when stimu$ated emission is
suppressed by! for examp$e!
b$oc0ing the cavity. he
extraction of $aser power
reduces the inversion density.
7
"
I
I
1
) I (
+

(I) . saturated gain
I . intracavity $aser intensity

"
. gain when I . "
I
7
. saturation intensity
%%

,
_

2
2 7>
7
cm
# h
I

7>
. stimu$ated emission cross
section

2
. $ifetime of inversion
%?
(2) In the steady state! the average
gain of a $aser is ,c$amped- at
thresho$d!
6
! by saturation.
6
is that va$ue which provides a
round trip gain of unity. If
@
6
! I wi$$ become arbitrari$y
$arge. If <
6
! I wi$$ decay to
)ero.
&ain Ae$$
*bsorber
R
1
R
2
I
B
I
out
. I
B
(ICR
2
)
IC . I
B
R
1
I
B
. ICR
2
I
C
%D
(/) he pumping (or unsaturated
inversion density) in excess of
thresho$d is extracted as $aser
power.

"
(E) or F
"
(E)
for b$oc0ed cavity
7aturated and
extracted as I(E)
Eump Rate
E
thresho$d

F

o
r

6

o
r

6
)
7
"
I
) E ( I
1
) E (
+

?"
(4) Gsing a Rigrod ana$ysis for a
cavity without $osses except for
output mirror transmission.
R
1
. 1""9 R
2
I
B
I
out
. I
B
(1HR
2
)
IC . R
2
I
B
I
out
I
C
&ain
l
g
I
out
.
1
]
1

,
_

2
g " sat
R
1
$n
2
1
I
?1
where
"

g
is sing$e pass sma$$
signa$ gain.
?2
LASER POWER:
AL!ERNA!E DERI"A!ION
1. he saturated gain of an amp$ifier
or $aser is
sat
"
I
) ( I
1
) (
) (

+


2. he thresho$d for osci$$ation!
given this system(

"
!
R
1
R
2
L
?/
is(
1 R e R e
1
L ) (
2
L ) (
6 6


7o
) R R $n(
L 2
1
2 1 6

/. 5n average! in the steady state(
If () @
6
I increases with time.
If () <
th
I decreased with
time.
() must .
6
F . (F)
6
?4
4. he intracavity intensity in this
homogeneous$yIbroadened system
must be given by(
) R R $n(
L 2
1
I
I
1
) (
2 1
6
sat
"


+

or
) R R $n(
L 2
1
) R R $n(
L 2
1
) ( I
2 1
2 1 "

'

J I
sat
'u$tip$y through by L.
?:
hen
sat
6
"
sat
2 1
"
I 1
I 1
) R R $n(
2
1
L
L
) ( I

'

'

or
sat
I 1
Eass K Loss
Eass K &ain
) ( I

'

?=
:. he optica$ power emitted by
atoms is(
E . (F)
6
J I J
7>
J v
Laser 'oda$
Lo$ume
7o

,
_

L
L
I L L I
L I E
6 6
7>
7>
6
?%
and
6 emission
E

'

1
) R R $n(
2
1
L
L
L
L
2 1
"
sat
I
where
) ( g c *
n ? h h
I
2
21
2 2
2 7>
sat

??
=. he fraction of $aser power that is
coup$ed out as ,usefu$- output is

Loss ota$
) R R $n(
2
1
L
) R R $n(
2
1
2 1
2 1

Gsefu$
5utput
7o3

) R R $n(
2
1
L
) R R $n(
2
1
E E
2 1
2 1
e out
?D
sat
2 1
"
I
L
L
1
) R R $n(
2
1
L
L

'

'

) R R $n(
2
1
2 1
ArossI
sectiona$
area

,
_

'

,
_

'

) R R $n(
2
1
I 1 I
# ) R R $n(
2
1
I
L
L
1 E
2 1 sat
6
"
out
2 1
sat
6
"
out
D"
If . "! then
6
. ) R R $n(
2
1
2 1
.
sat 6
6
"
2
out
I L 1 ) cm # ( I

'

7ame as Rigrods ana$ysis2
NO!E: In genera$!

'

,
_

$ossKpass ;ractiona$
ass coup$ingKp output ;ractiona$
L 1 I I
6
6
"
sat out
8
A# Laser Eower(
D1
{ }
mode
6
"
6 sat
*
1 L I ) #atts ( E

,
_

;or a 2 mirror optica$ cavity! we
have(
L
) R R $n(
2
1
) R R $n(
2
1
L
) R R $n(
2
1
$ossKpass ;ractiona$
ass coup$ingKp output ;ractiona$
6
2 1
2 1
2 1

D2
7o

,
_

'

) R R $n(
2
1
* 1 I E
2 1
mode
6
"
sat
D/
L*7>R E5#>R( I M I
sat

"
! I
out
R
2
L
R
1

6
. H
L 2
1
$n(R
1
R
2
) (cm
H1
)
In the steady state!
.
6
.
sat
"
IKI 1+

(I is the intracavity intensity2)

D4
7o$ving for I(
2
cm
#
sat
2 1
"
sat
6
"
sat
1
pass K $oss
pass K gain
I
1
) R R $n(
2
1
L
L
I
1 I I

'

'

'

*$$ pump power invested in pushing

"
above
6
appears as $ast output.
D:
he power emitted by a$$ atoms
within the mode vo$ume is(
E
e
. F
6
J I J
7>
J L
5r

/
1
/ 2
6
cm
cm
cm cm
6 7> e
L I F E

#Icm
H2
7o E
e
.
6
I L
where L . Laser mode vo$ume
. *rea J L
D=
5nce again! the fraction of Ee that is
usefu$ output power is the resu$t of
output coup$ing(
;ractiona$ output .
L
) R R $n(
2
1
) R R $n(
2
1
L
) R R $n(
2
1
6
2 1
2 1
2 1

D%
he $aser output power is! therefore!
L
) R R $n(
2
1
L I
L
) R R $n(
2
1
E E
6
2 1
6
6
2 1
e out

,
_

,
_

'

2 1
6
"
sat out
R R $n
2
1
1 I E
x *R>*
D?
7o
L
L
) R R $n(
2
1
1 I E
2 1
6
"
sat out

'

'

*nd the output $aser IF>F7IN is

" ) R R $n(
2
1
1 I ) cm # ( I
2 1
6
"
sat
2
out

,
_

'

If . " (i.e.! there are no
distributed or $umped $osses)! then
DD

6
. H
L 2
1
$n (R
1
R
2
)

6
. H
L 2
1
$n (R
1
R
2
) . "
and
L 1 I I
6
6
"
sat out

'

. "
7teady 7tate
E#AMPLE! Laser
L

"
!
Laser
5utput
R
2
. D"9 R
1
. 1""9
1""
Laser Power: I O
>
I
sat
#e have a $aser with gain medium
$ength
g
! sma$$ signa$ gain
"
! and
$osses (cm
H1
). he thresho$d gain
is

6
. H
g
2
1

$n (R
1
R
2
) cm
H1
l
g

"
!
I
out
R
2
R
1
I
out
I
In the steady state! .
6
.
sat
"
IKI 1+

cm
H1
where I is the intracavity
intensity. 7o$ving for I!
1"1
2
cm
#
sat
2 1
"
sat
6
"
sat
1
Eass K Loss
Eass K &ain
I
1
) R R $n(
2
1
I
1 I I
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

*$$ pump power creating

"
@
6
goes into $aser intensity.
he $aser power emitted by a$$
atoms is
1"2
1
]
1

/ 2
cm
#
cm
P
e 6
e
cm cm
L I ) F (
E
/ 2
#atts
.
6
J I J L
F
6
.
e
6

. thresho$d inversion
L . vo$ume of $aser mode
. *rea J
g

e
. stimu$ated emission cross
section
he fraction of E
e
that is ,output
power- is that portion of the $oss
that is output coup$ing.
1"/
;raction output .
g 6
2 1
2 1 g
2 1
) R R $n(
2
1
) R R $n(
2
1
) R R $n(
2
1

he $aser output power is therefore

g 6
2 1 6
g 6
2 1
e out
) R R $n(
2
1
L I
) R R $n(
2
1
E E

,
_

) cm (
cm
#
#atts ) R R $n(
2
1 L
1 I
2
2
2 1
g 6
"
sat

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

1"4
Laser output intensity is
2
2 1
6
"
sat
2
out
cm
#
) R R $n(
2
1
1 I
cm
#
I

,
_

,
_

,
_

If . " (no distributed or discrete

$osses)! then
g 6
6
"
sat
2
out
2 1
g
2 1
g
6
1 I
cm
#
I
) R R $n(
2
1
) R R $n(
2
1

,
_

,
_

1":
2
1
"

1"
*
21
E
1

2"
E
2
$%LE"EL SYS!EM
Let(

"
. :"" nm
L . /" cm
*
21
. 1"
:
s
H1
g
2
. g
1

2"
. / J 1"
H=
s
#
"
. "./: cm

1"
. / J 1"
H%
s . 1"
?
s
H1
. 1"
H/
cm
H1
n . 1
1"=
Sti&lated E&ission
'ross%Section

2
n ?
*
O
) ( g
n ?
*
2
2
21
"
2
2
21
7>
7o
) s 1" ( ?
2 ) cm 1" :"" ( s 1"
O
1 ? 2
2 % 1 :
7>

or
2 2 14
7>
Q =/" cm 1" / . =
O

!(res(old Gain

6
. H
L 2
1
$n(R
1
R
2
)
. 1"
H/
cm
H1
H
cm /" 2
1

$n ".D
1"%
5r

6
. 2.? J 1"
H/
cm
H1
. ".2?9Icm
H1
SA!)RA!ION IN!ENSI!Y
2 7>
sat
h
I

>ffective $ifetime
of upper $aser
$eve$
s / . 2
s 1" / . / s 1"
*
2
1 : 1 :
1
2" 21
1
2

+
+

1"?
. :"" nm . :"" J 1"
H%
cm

H1
. 2"!""" cm
H1
*nd
eL 4? . 2
L Ke cm ?"=:
cm 1" 2
O
h
1
1 4

7o
s 1" / . 2 cm 1" / . =
L RKe 1" = . 1 eL 4? . 2
I
= 2 14
1D
sat

I
sat
. 2.% #Icm
H2
1"D
MODAL AREA
2 2
"
cm /?: . " w *
SMALL SIGNAL GAIN

'

1
1
2
2 7> " 7> "
F
g
g
F F
In the steady state!
" * F
F
E
dt
dF
21 2
2"
2
2
2

2 2 2
E F

! ( )
21
1
2"
1
2
* +

11"
7imi$ar$y!
" * F
F
E
dt
dF
21 2
1"
1
1
1
+

1"
21
2
1 1
F
E F

'

+
*nd so
1"
21
2
2 1 2 2 "
E E E F

'

'

,
_

2 2
1" 1
21
1"
2 2 "
E
E
1 E F
111
LASER POWER

,
_

'

) R R $n(
2
1
*R>* 1 I E
2 1
6
"
sat out

'

1 /
"
2 14
2
cm 1" ? . 2
F cm 1" / . =
cm # % . 2
H1 2

,
_

D . " $n
2
1
cm /?: . "
2
112
E
out
. :.4? J 1"
H2
#S2.2: J 1"
H11
F
"
H 1T
8
cm
H/

Fote that F
"
wi$$ be a function of
E
1
and E
2
.
;or examp$e! if E
1
. "! then
{ }

'

:
%
1"
1" /
=
2
21 1" 2 2 "
1 s 1" / . 2 E
1 E F
+ut

6
.
7>
F
"
. 2.? J 1"
H/
cm
H1
11/
or
=./ J 1"
H14
cm
2
J E
2
J 2./ J 1"
H=
s
. 2.? J 1"
H/
cm
H1
E
2
must be 1.D/ J 1"
1=
cm
H/
Is
H1
for this system to reach $aser
thresho$d.
If E
2
M 1.D J 1"
1=
cm
H/
Is
H1
$aser2
E
2
< U U U no $asing
114
E*a&+le ,-:
I'>IV>E>FV>F L*7>R
In most situations! deriving an
ana$ytic expression for $aser
parameters of interest is not
possib$e.
Instead(
W write rate eXns. for state
number densities
W integrate them2
*nother /I$eve$ system
11:
D" cm
:" cm
R
2
. D"9 R
1
. 1""9
5ptica$ #indows!
. D?9
*
21
2
1
"

1
E
2
E
1
Let(
"
. 1.1 Ym . 1"" '6

"
. 1.1 Ym . 1"" '6)
*
21
. 1"
:
s
H1

2
. : Ys
11=

1
. 1.2: Y
g
2
Kg
1
. ".:
n . 1
E
1
. ".2: E
2
he rate eXuations for popu$ations
of 7tates 1 and 2 are(
( )

'

1
1
2
2 7>
2 2 21 2 2
2
F
g
g
F ) (
h
I
F * F E
dt
dF
11%
( )

'

+
1
1
2
2 7>
1
1
21 2 1
1
F
g
g
F ) (
h
I
F
* F E
dt
dF
he time rate of change of the
intracavity $aser intensity is(
11?

L 4
d
n
c
F * h
dt
dI
resonator by
subtended
ang$e so$id
2 21

L
F
g
g
F
n
c
I
1
1
2
2 7>

'

+
( )
1
2
2
2
1 2 1
R R $n
nL 2
c
I


;raction of cavity
$ength with gain
11D
Fotice that the $ast term in the
previous eXuation is a $oss term of
the form

'

,
_

2
2
2
1 2 1
6
$oss
R R
1
$n
nL 2
c
nL 2
c
dt
dI
5Z! now
s 1" 4 . =
2
O
) ( g
D

2
21
2
7>
n ?
) ( g *

or
7>
. /.1 J 1"
H1/
cm
2

12"
Fow! $et
:
1"
4
d

and
E
2
4 Ys
t
: J 1"
1/
cm
H/
Is
H1
s 1" / . / ) cm 1" 1 . / (
RKeL 1" = . 1 eL 12% . 1
h
I
= 2 1/
1D
2 7>
sat

121
I
sat
. ".1% #Icm
H2

where
"
. 1.1 Ym
[ D"D1 cm
H1
. 1.12% eL
and
1 1 :
1
2 21
1
2
) s : ( s 1"
*


+
+

7o
s / . /
2

;ina$$y!
( )
2
2
2
1 2 1 6
R R $n
L 2
1
/

&ain
Length
. H
cm :"
1
$n (1J ".D J ".D224)
122
5r
6
. B 1.?= J 1"
H/
cm
H1
*nd
I
output
. I
intracavity
J $n
2 1
R R
1
12/
124
Fotice that(
1. hresho$d is reached at O4 Ys but
$aser ,turns on- at : Ys because
additiona$ time is reXuired to
bui$d up I from ,the noise.-
2. 7pi0ing in the $aser output is
0nown as gain switching.
/. In steady state!
I
out

O
I
int
J $n
1
2
R

. 21 m#Icm
H2
12:
1. he thresho$d gain is ".1?=9Kcm.
hat gain is reached at \ 4 Ys!
however the $aser does not ,turn
on- unti$ about : Ys. his resu$ts
from the finite time that is reXuired
for the $aser to ,bui$d up- from
spontaneous emission once the gain
exceeds thresho$d.
2. he $aser initia$$y ,spi0es!-
saturating the gain be$ow thresho$d!
and the $aser near$y extinguishes.
he gain then recovers! the $aser
,spi0es- again! and the process
continues! s$ow$y damping unti$ the
steady state is reached. his spi0ing
is ca$$ed ,gain switching- where the
12=
gain ,overshoots- the thresho$d
va$ue due to the finite time reXuired
to bui$d up the $aser intensity to
saturating va$ues. #hen the $aser
intensity fina$$y bui$ds up to I \ I
sat
!
it sees a gain @
6
1 and increases
rapid$y. his ,dumps- the
popu$ation of F
2
into F
1
since
stimu$ated emission far exceeds
pumping.
/. In the steady state! the intracavity
$aser intensity is I \ ".2 #Kcm
2
\
I
sat
. he output $aser intensity is I
out
\ I
int
J $n (1KR
2
) . 21 m#Kcm
2
. he
steady state gain is eXua$ to
thresho$d
.
12%
Fd(]+L*F
;iber
. 412 nm
12?
&reen
:4D nm
6o(]+L*F
12D
OP!IM)M MIRROR
RE.LE'!I"I!Y AND POWER
Remember that ear$ier we found
that! in the presence of $oss! an
optima$ va$ue of R(< 1) exists.
his va$ue is important because(
1) If is made too sma$$!
absorption dominates.
2) If is made too $arge! $aser
thresho$d is a$so $arge.
1/"
*$so remember that(

E E
e out
+

where ) R R $n(
2
1
2 1
is the usefu$
cavity $oss! ^ J gain $ength is
the interna$ $oss.
If g
"
^
"
J gain $ength! then
*R>* I 1

g
E
sat
"
out

'

1/1
o find the optima$ va$ue for the
mirror ref$ectivity! set
"

E
out

we find that

optimum
. (g
"
)
1K2
H
or
( ) { }
( )
optimum
2 1
1K2
" opt
R R $n
2
1
L


7o! if R
1
. 1""9! then
1/2
( ) ( ) { }
( ) ( ) { }

1K2
"
1K2
" 2
L 2 exp
g 2 exp R
opt
AonseXuent$y! the optima$ $aser
output power is
( ) { }
( )
*R>*
1
g
g
g I E
1K2
"
"
1K2
" sat opt

'

+

5r
( ) *R>* g I E
2
1K2 1K2
" sat opt

1//
( ) ( ) { } # L L I E
2
1K2 1K2
" sat opt

8
E#AMPLE
Let
"
L . ".1! R
1
. 1""9
W *s L_! E
opt
`! and so R
2opt
`
W #ith increasing L! it is prudent
to a$$ow photons to escape from the
cavity before they are absorbed.
Vecrease R
2
2
1/4

"
L . ".1! R
1
. 1""9
L . ".""1! R
2
(opt) . D?.29

"
L . ".1! R
1
. 1""9
L577 (L)
1/: