Quantum fluctuations in a singlemode pulsed dye laser

Abstract

We have studied the intensity fluctuations from a pulsed single-mode grazing incidence dye laser. The laser operates using rhodamine 6G dye pumped by 308-nm radiation from a XeCl excimer laser. Pump laser pulse duration is 6-8 ns and dye laser pulse duration is 2-3 ns. The spectral purity of the dye laser radiation is within 20% of the Fourier transform limit. Using event-mode recording involving the monitoring of pump laser intensity and dye laser intensity, we have determined the amplitude distribution from the dye laser at pumping conditions below, slightly above, and significantly above threshold. The amplitude fluctuations from the dye laser are well characterized by a Fokker-Planck model and they appear to be quantum in origin.