Abstract

The effect of dispersive elements, such as intracavity étalons and multipass interferometric output couplers, on the mode separation of a resonator has been studied. We demonstrate, both theoretically and experimentally in a TEA CO₂ laser, that the separation of the two adjacent longitudinal modes closest to the interferometer reflection peak is strongly reduced when a high-finesse interferometer is used as an output coupler. This effect must be taken into account in the design of single-mode lasers.

© 1986 Optical Society of America

Spectral characteristics of laser cavities employing multipass grating interferometers as output couplers

G. Giuliani, E. Palange, and G. Salvetti
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4(11) 1781-1789 (1987)

Multipass grating interferometer as output coupler for tunable, single-mode operation of large-bandwidth lasers

G. Giuliani, E. Palange, S. Loreti, and G. Salvetti
Opt. Lett. 10(12) 600-602 (1985)

Multipass grating interferometer applied to line narrowing in excimer lasers

Jouni P. Partanen
Appl. Opt. 25(21) 3810-3815 (1986)

Reflective high-finesse interferometers as effective intrapulse laser frequency stabilizers

E. Palange and G. Salvetti
Opt. Lett. 15(12) 676-678 (1990)

Single-mode, tunable operation of a XeF excimer laser employing an original interferometer

E. Armandillo, P. V. M. Lopatriello, and G. Giuliani
Opt. Lett. 9(8) 327-329 (1984)