Open AccessWatt level laser source for a polychromatic laser guide stars: double resonant fluorescence from 3S1/2-3P3/2-3D5/2 transition of sodium atoms
Author(s) -
Qi Zong,
Chuan Guo,
Qi Bian,
Chang Xu,
Jun-Wei Zuo,
Lin Han,
Yu Shen,
Zhimin Wang,
Nan Zong,
Bo Yang,
Dafu Cui,
Qinjun Peng,
Zhaokai Xu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.012255
Subject(s) - laser linewidth , optics , laser , guide star , laser beam quality , materials science , laser power scaling , wavelength , physics , nanosecond , dye laser , pulse (music) , laser beams , detector
The polychromatic laser guide star (PLGS) is one of the solutions proposed to measure the differential atmospheric tip-tilt. A watts-level microsecond pulse all solid state laser source with two wavelengths at 589 and 819.7 nm are developed to perform a proof-of-concept on-sky test for what is believed to be the first time. By sum-frequency of 1319 and 1064 nm, a 44 W maximum average output power at 589.159 nm is generated with the pulse width of ~90 μs at 500 Hz, the linewidth of 0.46 pm, and the beam quality of M2 = 1.50. Meanwhile, a 2.4 W average output power is achieved operating at 819.710 nm with the pulse width of ~25 μs at 500 Hz, the linewidth of 0.8 pm, and beam quality factor of M2 = 1.20, which is end-pumped by a frequency-doubled 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. Moreover, double resonant fluorescence in sodium cell with two step excitation of sodium atom from 3S 1/2 to 3D 5/2 via 3P 3/2 level is observed clearly by tuning the wavelength of 589 and 819.7 nm beams. In the proof-of-principle experiment, it is preliminarily verified that this laser system is expected to be applied to the sky experiment.