RAMAN SHIFTING OF ND-YAP LASER-RADIATION WITH A BRILLOUIN RESONATOR COUPLED WITH A RAMAN HALF-RESONATOR

We demonstrate the efficient generation of first Stokes Raman radiatio n using a Brillouin resonator coupled with a Raman half-resonator. A R aman laser at the eye-safe wavelength of 1.575 mu m in high-pressure C H4 gas was generated from a passively Q-switched Nd:YAP laser. Raman c onversion efficiencies of as much as 55% were obtained at a pressure o f 800 psi. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.