Intensity-noise suppression in a diode-pumped Tm-Ho:YAG laser

摘要

Laser source amplitude stability is of great interest to improve detection sensitivity in many applications as metrology, sensor, and optical communications. In this work we experimentally investigate, for the first time to our knowledge, the noise characteristics of a diode-pumped single-frequency Tm-Ho:YAG and we report complete suppression of the relative-intensity-noise (RIN) peak by means of a suitable electronic feedback circuit acting on the drive current of the pump diode. The length of the end-pumped (λ≌780 nm) plano-convex Tm-Ho:YAG laser cavity is ≌55 mm. A 150-μm thick intracavity etalon (R≌80%) provides for single-frequency operation and tuning at around 2097 nm. The laser generates an output power of 35 mW at 620 mW pump power.