A quasi-CW linearly polarized rubidium vapor laser pumped by a 5-bar laser diode stack

Abstract

We report a quasi-CW linearly-polarized rubidium vapor laser. The pumping source consists of 5 laser diode bars and its linewidth is reduced from the raw 1.8 nm to 0.2 nm by a bulk Volume Bragg Grating (VBG). Instead of adopting the "quasi-waveguide structure" gain cell, the pumping light of the rubidium vapor laser propagates freely in the vapor cell. The pumping light with polarization perpendicular to one of the rubidium laser is coupled into the resonator cavity by the PBS. Output power of 10 W with good beam quality is realized. This laser configuration is suitable for a convectioncooling DPAL.