Abstract

Enforcing unidirectional operation of a ring laser using an intracavity travelling-wave acousto-optic (A-O) modulator can be an effective way to achieve both efficient and reliable single-frequency operation.^1,2 This technique offers significant advantages over the traditional Faraday isolator approach since it does not rely on polarization discrimination and requires only one extra intracavity component. This renders the technique extremely well suited for use in low gain miniature laser systems, such as diode- pumped solid-state lasers.

© 1993 Optical Society of America