JPH05136531A - Coloring matter laser device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the title coloring matter laser to be miniaturized without modifying the shape of the whole device at all for reducing the ASE without fail. CONSTITUTION:At least two kinds of mixed coloring matter solution F are circulated in a coloring matter cell 10 by a circulator 15 and when this coloring matter solution F is irradiated with exciting beams, the beams in specific wavelength and the other beams not in the specific wavelength are emitted from either one coloring matter solution while at this time, the other coloring matter solution absorbs the wavelength component not in the specific wavelength. Through these procedures, the coloring matter beams Q in the specific wavelength can be emitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a spontaneous emission amplified light (AS).
The present invention relates to a dye laser device aiming to reduce E).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a dye laser device.
This device generates ASE as the dye laser oscillates.
The laser oscillator 1 and the laser amplifier 2 for amplifying the dye laser light output from the laser oscillator 1 are provided. An ASE saturation absorber 3 is arranged between the laser oscillator 1 and the laser amplifier 2, and a saturation absorber 4 is arranged on the output side of the laser amplifier 2. Each of these saturated absorbers 2 and 4 has the same wavelength absorption band as the wavelength region of ASE.

With such a configuration, the dye laser light output from the laser oscillator 1 is transmitted through the saturated absorber 3 to absorb and reduce the ASE. Then, the dye laser light is amplified by the laser amplifier 2, and again passes through the saturated absorber 4, whereby ASE is further absorbed and reduced.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another dye laser device having an ASE reducing function. In this device, a spatial filter 5 for removing ASE is arranged between a laser oscillator 1 and a laser amplifier 2, and a spatial filter 6 is arranged on the output side of the laser amplifier 2. As shown in FIG. 6, these spatial filters 5 and 6 have a configuration in which a condenser lens 7, a pinhole plate 8 and a collimator lens 9 are arranged.

With such a configuration, the dye laser light output from the laser oscillator 1 is condensed by the condenser lens 7 of the spatial filter 5 and passes through the pinhole. At this time, the ASE has a different spread angle. Therefore, the condenser lens 7
Since the light collecting aperture diameter and the direction are different, the light is blocked by the pinhole plate 8. Then, the dye laser light that has passed through the pinhole plate 8 is amplified by the laser amplifier 2, and the spatial filter 6 again removes ASE.

However, in each of the above devices, the saturated absorbers 3 and 4 or the spatial filters 5 and 6 must be arranged on the optical path of the dye laser beam, and the size of the device can be reduced when the size is limited. Difficulties arise.

Further, in an apparatus in which the spatial filters 5 and 6 are arranged, it is difficult to reduce the ASE unless the spatial filters 5 and 6 are accurately aligned with the dye laser light.

[0008]

As described above, when the size of the entire device is limited by the arrangement of the saturated absorbers 3 and 4 or the spatial filters 5 and 6, it is difficult to reduce the size, and
Unless the spatial filters 5 and 6 are accurately aligned with the dye laser light, it becomes difficult to reduce ASE. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dye laser device which can be downsized without changing the shape of the entire device and can surely reduce ASE.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dye laser device which irradiates a dye solution with excitation light and causes fluorescent light to be optically resonated by an optical resonator and output as laser light. In a dye laser device for achieving the above object, at least one dye solution has an absorption wavelength band for a wavelength component other than a desired wavelength generated in another dye solution. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, a dye laser oscillator, at least one-stage dye laser amplifier for amplifying laser light output from the dye laser oscillator, at least two dye solutions are mixed, and at least one dye solution is mixed. The dye solution is provided with a circulation means for circulating a mixed dye solution having an absorption wavelength band for a wavelength component other than a desired wavelength generated in another dye solution to the dye laser oscillator and the dye laser amplifier, in order to achieve the above object. It is a dye laser device.

[0011]

By providing such means, when at least two kinds of mixed dye solutions are irradiated with excitation light, light having a desired wavelength and light having a wavelength other than the desired wavelength are generated from one of the dye solutions. At this time, since the other dye solutions have absorption wavelength bands for wavelength components other than the desired wavelength, they absorb wavelength components other than the desired wavelength. As a result, the dye laser light of the desired wavelength is output.

Further, by providing the above means, at least two kinds of mixed dye solutions are circulated to the dye laser oscillator and the dye laser amplifier of at least one stage by the circulation means. Accordingly, in the dye laser oscillator and the dye laser amplifier, when the mixed dye solution is irradiated with the excitation light, light having a desired wavelength and light having a wavelength other than the desired wavelength are generated from one of the dye solutions, and at this time, other light is emitted. A wavelength component other than the desired wavelength is absorbed by the dye solution. This allows
Dye laser light of a desired wavelength is output.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a dye laser device. A high reflection mirror 11 and an output mirror 12 are arranged on both sides of the dye cell 10 so as to sandwich the dye cell 10, and the high reflection mirror 11 and the output mirror 12 form an optical resonator. In the dye cell 10, the dye flow path 1 of the dye solution is provided.
3 is formed. The dye flow path 13 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped, and its forming direction is perpendicular to the drawing.

Further, a laser oscillator 14 for excitation is provided, and the excitation laser light output from the laser oscillator 14 is irradiated onto the dye solution flowing in the dye flow path 13. On the other hand, a circulation device 15 is provided. The circulation device 15 has a function of circulating a mixed dye solution F, which is a mixture of two kinds of dye solutions, in the dye passage 13. By the way, the mixed dye solution F is a mixture of two kinds of dye solutions, for example, rhodamine 6G and salfoledamine 101.

Of these, Rhodamine 6G has a wavelength absorption band shown in FIG. 2 (a) and a fluorescence band shown in FIG. 2 (b), and when receiving pump laser light having a wavelength in the wavelength absorption band (FIG. 2 (a)). As shown in c), laser light with a wavelength within the fluorescence band, for example, a wavelength of 620n
It emits m light and, together with this, an ASE with a wavelength of about 560 nm.
To occur. On the other hand, Monkey Foldamin 101
ASE generated by Rhodamine 6G as shown in (d)
Has an absorption wavelength band for the wavelength component of.

With such a configuration, the circulation device 15 circulates the mixed dye solution F of rhodamine 6G and salfoludamine 101 in the dye passage 13 of the dye cell 10. In this case, the mixed dye solution F flows through the dye passage 13 from the front side to the back side of the drawing. In this state, pump laser oscillator 1
Excitation laser light is irradiated from 4 to the mixed dye solution F. The wavelength of this excitation laser light is in the wavelength absorption band of Rhodamine 6G.

Upon receiving the excitation laser light, the mixed dye solution F absorbs the excitation laser light and generates light with a wavelength of about 620 nm and ASE with a wavelength of about 560 nm. However,
The mixed dye solution F contains salfoludamin 101 having an absorption wavelength band for the wavelength component of ASE.
Therefore, ASE having a wavelength of about 560 nm is absorbed by salfoludamin 101.

Therefore, the light of wavelength 620 nm causes optical resonance between the high-reflecting mirror 11 and the output mirror 12, and as a result, ASE is reduced, and the central wavelength shown in FIG.
The dye laser light Q of 620 nm is output.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the mixed dye solution F is irradiated with the exciting laser beam, the rhodamine 6G emits the light of the desired wavelength and the ASE, of which the ASE is absorbed by the salfoledamine 101. As a result, the ASE can be reduced and the dye laser beam of the desired wavelength (620 nm) can be output. In this case, since no other member is added to the dye laser device, it is possible to easily cope with downsizing of the entire device.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of the dye laser device shown in FIG. This dye laser device is composed of a dye laser oscillator 20 and a laser amplifier 21. The dye laser oscillator 20 is
It is composed of a dye cell 22, a high reflection mirror 23 and an output mirror 24 which are arranged so as to sandwich the dye cell 22. A dye flow path 25 is formed in the dye cell 22, and the dye flow path 25 is a rectangular parallelepiped, and its forming direction is perpendicular to the drawing.

The laser amplifier 21 is a dye cell having the same structure as the dye cell 22, and is a rectangular parallelepiped in which a dye flow path 26 whose direction of formation is perpendicular to the drawing is formed. Then, the laser amplifier 21 includes a laser oscillator 2
The dye laser beam Qa output from 0 is arranged so as to enter the dye channel 26 in the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, a laser oscillator 27 for excitation is provided, the excitation laser light output from this laser oscillator 27 is branched into two directions by a beam splitter 28, and one of the excitation laser lights is the dye flow of the dye cell 22. The excitation laser beam of the other side is irradiated on the path 25 and is reflected by the reflection mirror 29 to be irradiated on the dye flow path 26 of the laser amplifier 21.

The circulation device 30 includes the dye flow path 2 of the dye cell 22.
5 and the dye flow path 26 of the laser amplifier 21 have a function of circulating the mixed dye solution F. This mixed dye solution F
Are two types of dye solutions as described above, such as Rhodamine 6G
It is a mixture of Salfoledamin 101.

With such a configuration, the circulation device 30 circulates the mixed dye solution F of rhodamine 6G and salfoledamine 101 through the dye cells 22 and the dye channels 25 and 26 of the laser amplifier 21, respectively. In this case, the mixed dye solution F flows through the dye flow paths 25 and 26 from the front side to the back side of the drawing. When excitation laser light is output from the excitation laser oscillator 27 in this state, this excitation laser light is split into two directions by the beam splitter 28, and one excitation laser light is applied to the dye passage 25 of the dye cell 22. The other excitation laser beam is reflected by the reflection mirror 29 and is applied to the dye passage 26 of the laser amplifier 21.
The wavelength of the pump laser light is the same as above for Rhodamine 6G.
The wavelength is in the wavelength absorption band of.

When the excited dye laser beam is applied to the mixed dye solution F flowing in the dye cell 22, the mixed dye solution F absorbs the excited laser light and the light having the wavelength of about 620 nm and the wavelength of 560 nm.
Generates some ASE. However, since the mixed dye solution F contains salfoludamin 101 having an absorption wavelength band for the wavelength component of ASE, ASE is absorbed by salfoludamin 101.

As a result, in the laser oscillator 20, light having a wavelength of 620 nm causes optical resonance between the high reflection mirror 11 and the output mirror 12, and as a result, the dye laser light Qa having a center wavelength of 620 nm with reduced ASE is output. To be done.

This dye laser beam Qa is emitted from the laser amplifier 21.
And the pump laser light is incident on the laser amplifier 21. As a result, the mixed dye solution F flowing through the laser amplifier 21 receives the excitation laser light and has a wavelength of 620 nm.
It emits a certain amount of light and an ASE with a wavelength of about 560 nm. However, similarly to the above, the mixed dye solution F has a salfoldamine 101 having an absorption wavelength band for the wavelength component of ASE.
Is included, so ASE is Salfoludamin 10
Absorbed by 1. The mixed dye solution F has a wavelength of 620n.
Since the dye laser light Qa of m 2 is incident, the light having a wavelength of about 620 nm generated by the excitation laser light and the dye laser light Qa are combined. As a result, the laser amplifier 21 outputs the amplified dye laser light Qb having a wavelength of 620 nm.

As described above, in the second embodiment, since the mixed dye solution F is circulated through the circulation device 30 between the dye laser oscillator 20 and the dye laser amplifier 21, the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the ASE can be reduced and the dye laser beam Qb having a desired wavelength can be output, and further miniaturization of the entire apparatus can be easily accommodated. Further, since the laser amplifier 21 amplifies the dye laser light Qa having a wavelength of 620 nm, the AS for the amplified dye laser light Qb is obtained.
The ratio of E is significantly reduced as compared with the case where the laser amplifier 21 is not provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but may be modified within the scope of the invention. For example, the mixed dye solution is not limited to two kinds of dye solutions and may be a mixture of many kinds of dye solutions. In this case, for example, the first dye solution has an absorption wavelength band for ASE generated in the second dye solution, and the third dye solution has an absorption wavelength band for ASE generated in the second dye solution. Good.

Further, for example, the first dye solution is the second and third dye solutions.
It may have an absorption wavelength band for each ASE generated in the dye solution. In this case, the second and third dye solutions have different excitation wavelengths. Further, the laser amplifier is not limited to one stage and may be provided in a plurality of stages.

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dye laser device which can be downsized without changing the shape of the entire device and can surely reduce ASE.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a dye laser device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an ASE reducing action in the same apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of a dye laser device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional device.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a spatial filter used in the apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 22, 26 ... Dye cell, 11, 23 ... High reflection mirror, 12, 24 ... Output mirror, 13, 25, 26 ... Dye flow path, 14, 27 ... Laser oscillator, 15, 30 ... Circulation device, F ... Mixed dye solution.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A dye laser device for irradiating a dye solution with excitation light and causing fluorescent light to resonate with an optical resonator to output laser light, wherein the dye solution is at least 2
What is claimed is: 1. A dye laser device comprising a mixture of different kinds of dye solutions, wherein at least one dye solution has an absorption wavelength band for a wavelength component other than a desired wavelength generated in another dye solution. 2. A dye laser oscillator, a dye laser amplifier of at least one stage for amplifying laser light output from the dye laser oscillator, at least two kinds of dye solutions are mixed, and at least one dye solution is A dye laser device comprising: a circulating means for circulating a mixed dye solution having an absorption wavelength band for a wavelength component other than a desired wavelength generated in the dye solution to the dye laser oscillator and the dye laser amplifier.