Abstract

Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) is a widely used method for frequency conversion of laser radiation. Potassium gadolinium tungstate (KGW) crystal is one of the promising solid-state Raman-active media. The first diode pumped continuous-wave laser with intracavity Raman conversion was demonstrated with this crystal [1]. KGW possesses 767 cm⁻¹ and 901 cm⁻¹ Raman shifts having the highest Raman gain. In the b-cut KGW crystal, for the radiation polarized parallel to N_m axis of Fresnel ellipsoid and passing along the N_p axis the Raman frequency ω_R equals 901 cm⁻¹. For the radiation polarized along the N_g the scattering spectra is richer, the 767 cm⁻¹ mode possessing the highest Raman gain. We present KGW quasi-continuous-wave end-diode-pumped intracavity Raman laser operating at 1159- and 1177 nm lines, which correspond to 767 cm⁻¹ and 901 cm⁻¹ shifts, respectively. The lines at 1074 nm and 1171 nm (ω_R = 86 cm⁻¹) were also observed.

© 2011 Optical Society of America