All-solid-state stimulated Raman scattering-based source of pulsed radiation tunable in 345-625 and 690-1250 nm ranges for spectroscopic applications

The generation characteristics of a barium nitrate Raman laser with pumping by a narrowband tunable nanosecond (τp ≈ 9 ns) Ti : Sapphire laser were studied for the first time. The generation of the first three Stokes components of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and their second harmonics was obtained with a spectral linewidth of <0.4 cm−1 and tuning ranges 930–1250 and 465–625 nm. The efficiencies of energy conversion obtained for the first, second and third SRS components were η1s=60%, η2s=49% and η3s=33%, respectively. On the basis of the investigated barium nitrate Raman laser, an all-solid-state laser system was built for various spectroscopic applications, which provides powerful narrowband pulsed radiation tunable in the spectral ranges 345–625 and 690–1250 nm. The applicability of the constructed laser system in Raman spectroscopy was successfully tested by performing a saturation resonance Raman experiment on nickel porphyrin in water solution.