System Design and Relaxation Oscillations of a Titanium-Sapphire Laser

A general method for designing a laser system is presented. Using the Tisapphire laser as an example, the requirements of stability, astigmatic compensation, and matching of the pump and cavity modes are addressed. Investigations into the relaxation oscillations of a Ti-sapphire laser are reported. Using four level laser rate equation theory, a technique is developed for analyzing relaxation oscillations exhibited by a laser. This technique presents a new and simple method for measuring the upper state lifetime and intrinsic cavity losses of a laser system. Beam-like vector solutions to Maxwells equations are also presented. These solutions present a more detailed description of the polarization properties of laser beams. Experimental evidence of these properties is shown using an Argon laser.