Efficiency and linewidth improvements in a grazing incidence dye laser using an intracavity lens and spherical end mirror

Abstract

A modified simple cavity design for the grazing incidence dye laser is presented. Diffraction losses are reduced by the addition of an intracavity lens and 100% reflecting spherical end mirror. The resulting concentric resonator design allows conversion efficiencies of 15% to be achieved. In addition, linewidth reductions of 25-40% over the conventional cavity are obtained, and the effects of the lens design with and without a spherical end mirror are discussed. Linewidth, efficiency, and relative power measurements for the conventional and modified dye laser cavities are compared.