Abstract

In injection-locked pulsed lasers, the buildup time is a function of detuning between the injection frequency and the cavity frequency. When detuning equals zero, the laser builds up to a pulsed output within the shortest time. On the other hand, the buildup time is the longest when the injection frequency corresponds to the middle of two neighboring cavity frequencies, i.e., detuning equals π. The difference in the buildup time between the two cases is typically about 300 ns in TEA CO₂ lasers.^1-4 Although the longitudinal-mode selection is readily attained, the buildup time spreads within this range unless controlling detuning. In general, the detuning is stabilized by steadying the cavity length and is adjusted finely with an electric transducer. However, even then fluctuation in the discharge input energy gives rise to large time jitter in buildup, which is on the order of 10 ns.

© 1996 Optical Society of America