Configurations for high‐power pulsed CH3F 496‐μm lasers

摘要

The generation of high‐power pulses from optically pumped CH3F at 496 μm was investigated in a simple one‐mirror superradiant laser, a dielectric waveguide laser, and an oscillator‐amplifier configuration. All three configurations were found to produce linearily polarized temporally smooth pulses with a lowest‐order transverse intensity profile. The superradiant mode produced approximately twice the output of the oscillator‐amplifier mode while the cavity always produced the lowest output. A maximum FIR output of 2.3 kW corresponding to an energy conversion efficiency of 0.35% was obtained which is 35% of the theoretical maximum.