Double-pass high-gain laser amplifiers

Double-pass laser amplifiers have advantages of compactness and efficiency in the amplification of optical signals, and such amplifiers have been employed in a wide range of optical systems. Work in this area is reviewed briefly, and analytical solutions are obtained for the intensity of the electromagnetic waves in double-pass homogeneously-broadened high-gain laser amplifiers. Expressions are derived relating the output power to the input, including the effects of arbitrary mirror reflectivity and frequency detuning from line center. In the limits of weak saturation and of high reflectivity the results are consistent with earlier studies. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)05318-9].