A Diode-Laser-Pumped, Nd:YAG Laser for Gravity Wave Astronomy

用光学干涉法探测重力波需要一种高效、低振幅、低频率噪声的高功率激光器。Byer教授的团队将设计、建造并研究一台13瓦、单轴模、二极管激光泵浦的Nd:YAG激光器，该激光器具有激光干涉仪引力波天文台（LIGO）所需的功率、频率和振幅稳定性以及空间模式特性。这种激光器将被设计成具有20%的电效率和超过100瓦的光功率的潜力。通过注入锁定低功率（50 mW）稳定的非平面环形振荡器（NPRO）的13瓦振荡器，他们将获得稳定的单轴模式单向振荡。在单片谐振谐波发生器中，13瓦激光器的输出频率将增加一倍，转换效率超过80%，产生10瓦的绿光，与注入NPRO激光器具有相同的时间相干性。随后，这台13瓦的激光器将与LIGO项目相关的科学团队合作，应用于干涉测量研究。

Gravity wave detection by optical interferometry requires an efficient, high power laser with low amplitude and frequency noise. Prof. Byer's group will design, build, and study a 13- watt, single-axial-mode, diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG laser, with the power, frequency and amplitude stability and spatial mode properties necessary for the laser interferometer gravitational wave observatory (LIGO). This laser will be designed with the potential to operate at 20% electrical efficiency and to scale to greater than 100 watts of optical power. They will obtain stable, single-axial-mode, unidirectional oscillation by injection locking the 13-watt oscillator with a low power (50 mW) stabilized, nonplanar ring oscillator (NPRO). The output of the 13-watt laser will then be frequency doubled with greater than 80% conversion efficiency in a monolithic resonant harmonic generator to produce 10 watts of green light with the same temporal coherence as the injecting NPRO laser. The 13- watt laser will then be applied to interferometric studies in cooperation with the scientific teams associated with the LIGO project.