Synchronously pumped H-2 Raman laser

A Raman laser based on rotational scattering in molecular hydrogen is pumpe d by a shea train of pulses from a Nd:YAG laser. Efficient energy conversio n into the first and second Stokes is observed depending on the outcoupler losses at pump levels well below the threshold for extracavity scattering. The features of this synchronously pumped laser are compared to a theoretic al model of Raman scattering that takes into account higher order Stokes an d anti-Stokes waves in the transient regime. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.