Abstract

We demonstrate that temporal broadening of transform-limited nanosecond pulses during gain saturation in a Nd:YAG amplifier can produce substantial linewidth narrowing. Measurements of linewidths with two-color Doppler-free saturated spectroscopy in I₂ show reductions in linewidth by more than a factor of 2.5 from 58 to 20 MHz when a double-pass amplifier is used. The observed temporal broadening is described well by a simple gain saturation theory.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

Gain Narrowing in a Laser Amplifier

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