Master Laser

Definition: a single-frequency laser used for injection locking one or several other lasers

Alternative term: seed laser

More general term: lasers

Opposite term: slave lasers

Category: laser devices and laser physics

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URL: https://www.rp-photonics.com/master_laser.html

A master laser is a single-frequency laser which is used for, e.g., injection locking of one or several slave lasers. Sometimes, the term master laser is also used for a seed laser of a master oscillator power amplifier system.

A master laser often generates an optical power which is well below the output power of the complete laser system; the injection-seeded slave lasers may then be high-power lasers. The modest power requirements for the master laser make it possible to realize a very low level of laser noise, which may be approximately transferred to the whole system. Also, a larger range for wavelength tuning may be accomplished.

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