Numerical optimization of the extracavity Raman laser with barium nitrate crystal

The radiation transfer equations of the extracavity Raman laser including up to the third Stokes beams and backward Raman scattering terms were deduced in detail from the wave equation and material equations of stimulated Raman scattering. The radiation transfer equations were solved numerically to optimize the performance of the extracavity Raman lasers with barium nitrate crystal as the nonlinear medium. The optimum reflectivity of the output coupler at the first Stokes was figured out numerically to achieve the maximum conversion efficiency of the first Stokes, and found to be closely related to the pump pulse duration, peak intensity of the pump pulse, and Raman crystal length. With the resonator mirrors highly reflective at the first Stokes, the highest conversion efficiency of the second Stokes was obtained when the input mirror was highly reflective at second Stokes, whereas the output coupler was highly transmissive at the second Stokes. It was found that too high intracavity intensity of the second Stokes would impede the efficient energy extraction from the pump pulse to the first Stokes, and consequently, limit the conversion efficiency of the second Stokes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.