The Temporal Structure of the Output of a Neodymium Laser with Self-Synchronization of Modes

Studying lasers with synchronization and self-synchronization of modes^1,2 entails measurements of time intervals of a duration of about 1 ps. The time resolution of conventional oscillographic methods at the present time is limited to approximately 0.3 ns, which is lower by two orders of magnitude than the required value. An original technique, proposed in Refs. 3 and 4, shows that such short durations can be measured by using methods of nonlinear optics. Nevertheless, at the present state of the art, methods of measuring the duration of light pulses, based on the observation of nonlinear optical effects, do not allow a unique determination of the time structure of the radiation.⁵ A direct solution of this problem can be found only by a direct measuring method. In our opinion the most appropriate technique is electron-optical high-speed photography. The experimental time resolution of this method⁶ is about 10 ps and, although it does not permit the measurement of ultrashort pulses (only the upper limit or their duration can be determined), it still makes it possible to solve several problems.

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1970-01

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J16713