Electro-optic mode-locking of the iodine photodissociation laser

Abstract

Active mode-locking of the 1.315 mu m iodine photodissociation laser oscillator has been carried out using a KD*P crystal electro-optic modulator. This modulator provides a 100% depth of modulation of cavity losses which enables bandwidth limited mode-locked pulses to be obtained. Several laser gases have been investigated and pulsewidths down to 300 ps obtained without added buffer gas. The mode-locked pulsewidths have been used to obtain values of the relative pressure broadening parameters, which for CF₃I, C₂F₅I and C₃F₇I are in the ratio of 1:1.13:1.34. The performance of the system suggests that mode-locked pulsewidths down to 50 ps should be obtainable with additional broadening by buffer gases.