CHARACTERISTICS OF A DYE-LASER WITH AN OPTOTHERMAL BISTABLE MIRROR

We study numerically and experimentally various characteristics of a d ye laser, using an optothermal bistable device as one of the cavity mi rrors, when an etalon is inserted in the laser cavity. Firstly, we dev elop a model for describing this laser system. Secondly, we show that this laser can exhibit bistabilities in both intensity and wavelength simultaneously. Thirdly, we study one of the applications of this syst em: using it to improve the output power stability of a laser, Theoret ical and experimental results show that, under proper conditions, the output power fluctuations at low frequencies which are produced by gai n changes can be reduced remarkably by using this laser system. Finall y, we study experimentally the switching dynamics in this laser, and d emonstrate that optical flip-flop operation can be realized in it by p ositive pump light pulses, or by positive pump light pulses for onswit ching and additional positive light pulses (to change the phase shift of the bistable mirror) for downswitching. (C) 1996 Society of Photo-O ptical Instrumentation Engineers.