Experimental investigation of gas-flow type DPAL

摘要

We have developed a small-scale, diode-pumped alkali laser with a closed-loop gas circulation device and investigated the effect of gas circulation on the laser output power. The gain cell, with a 5 cm active length, is fitted with antireflection windows, and a cross-flow fan is incorporated inside it. The active medium is composed of cesium, hydrocarbon, and a buffer gas whose total pressure is approximately 2 atmospheres. The laser output power was measured as a function of the gas flow velocity for different buffer gases. In the case of argon, the laser power was strongly dependent on the gas flow velocity, whereas it was almost independent of the gas flow in the case of helium. The maximum output power of the argon buffer was close to that of the helium buffer when the gas velocity exceeded 6 m/s. The experimental results were in good agreement with the numerical simulations.