Investigation of ASE contribution to copper bromide amplifier output signal

Abstract

The paper is devoted to research the single-pass operating mode of active element on copper bromide vapors and time dependence of ratio «signal/ASE». The results show how the single-pass radiation power depends on time delay between ASE pulse and moment when the input signal enters to active element. Light waveforms (ASE, input signal, output signal) are recorded at each time delay. The minimal time delay was 5.2 ns, power radiation in this case was 3.47 W. The radiation power was reducing as the time delay was increased in increments of about 2 ns. The waveforms prove that the active element output signal contains two components: the first – ASE (amplified spontaneous emission), which is formed as result of the active substance atom excitation and their further spontaneous transitions; the second – single-pass radiation amplified by means of inverse population of the active media. The waveforms allow to estimate the useful signal to noise ratio or other words «signal/ASE». The highest gain is provided with the lowest time delay due to the population inversion is maximum in this case.