Abstract

Since the demonstration of laser, an important parameter characterizing the performance of any optical oscillator has been the extractable output power. The conventional method relies on the use of a partially transmitting mirror as an output coupler. However, attainment of maximum output power requires experimental evaluation of different mirror transmissions. Moreover, variations in operating conditions, such as pumping level, alter the optimum value of output coupling, again requiring mirrors of different transmission values. There have been alternative approaches to output coupling, but they suffer from elaborate designs, bulkiness, or wavelength dependency. Here, we demonstrate a novel method for absolute optimization of output power from an optical oscillators using antiresonant ring (ARR) interferometry (see Fig. 1). The technique permits arbitrary adjustment of output coupling with a simple setup, operates over a wide wavelength range, is inherently stable, and universally applicable to any optical oscillator, including any laser.

© 2011 Optical Society of America