A Q-SWITCHED ALEXANDRITE LASER INJECTION SEEDED BY A RUBIDIUM ABSORPTION FREQUENCY MATCHED DIODE-LASER

We developed a narrowband Q-switched alexandrite laser injection seeded by a diode laser which was frequency stabilized to the 780 nm rubidium atomic absorption line. We were able to get injection seeded single-mode output pulses of approximately 10 mJ per pulse energy at 780 nm with approximately 200 ns fwhm pulse duration. By using a side injection scheme and an active cavity length control technique high efficiency injection locking was obtained with small injection power. This system was used as an illumination source for atomic line filters with excellent long term stability and day-to-day reliability.