Abstract
Experiments have been performed to measure the degree to which the phase information on an input Stokes beam can be preserved in a hydrogen Raman amplifier in the presence of phase and intensity nonuniformities on the pump beam. The experiments were conducted at Fresnel numbers of about 40 and at amplified Stokes fluences of up to 3.4 J cm−2. Astigmatism and focus on the pump did not transfer to the Stokes, and astigmatism on the input Stokes was maintained during amplification. Strong, ordered intensity nonuniformities on the pump beam resulted in large wave-front errors on the amplified Stokes, possibly due to a self-focusing effect. A more uniform pump resulted in an amplified Stokes beam quality of 1.2 times the diffraction limit.
© 1986 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
Hiroshi Komine, William H. Long, Eddy A. Stappaerts, and Stephen J. Brosnan
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(10) 1428-1447 (1986)
A. Flusberg and D. Korff
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(10) 1338-1344 (1986)
J. Reintjes, R. H. Lehmberg, R. S. F. Chang, M. T. Duignan, and G. Calame
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 3(10) 1408-1427 (1986)