Output Couplers
Author: the photonics expert Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta (RP)
Definition: partially transparent laser mirrors, used for extracting output beams from laser resonators
Alternative term: output coupling mirrors
More general term: laser mirrors
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DOI: 10.61835/zcz Cite the article: BibTex plain textHTML Link to this page LinkedIn
An output coupler is a semi-transparent dielectric mirror used in a laser resonator. Its function is to transmit part of the circulating intracavity optical power to generate a useful output of the laser.
As for basically all laser mirrors, the reflecting coating of an output coupler mirror is on the inner side, i.e., on the side of the mirror substrate which is oriented towards the laser resonator. This is because otherwise one would have a serious impact of losses by parasitic reflections on that inner side, which is exposed to the full circulating optical power.
Output Coupler Transmissivity
An important property of an output coupler is its transmissivity (the degree of its transmission of optical power). A low output coupler transmissivity leads to a low threshold pump power, but also possibly to a poor laser efficiency if the losses due to output coupling do not dominate over other (parasitic) losses in the laser resonator (low output coupling efficiency). The output coupler transmissivity is often chosen to maximize the output power, although its optimum value may be lower or higher if there are other design goals, e.g. minimizing the intracavity intensities or suppressing Q-switching instabilities in a passively mode-locked laser.
Flat and Curved Output Couplers
Output coupler mirrors are often mirrors with a flat surface, since it is often convenient to obtain a collimated beam at the output. (For a linear resonator, the wavefronts of the resonator modes must match the mirror surface, so that a flat output coupler results in a focus at that place.) Also, misalignment of any optical element other than the output coupler itself will then lead only to a parallel shift of the output beam, but not to a change in direction (→ beam pointing fluctuations). In the case of an output coupler with a curved (e.g. concave) surface, one also has to take into account that the mirror substrate will usually have a focusing or defocusing effect on the output beam.
Reflections from the Backside
Note also that the backside of the glass substrate of an output coupler mirror has some reflectivity, which may have an effect on the laser performance. Even the residual reflectivity of an anti-reflection-coated backside may create an interference (etalon) effect (if the surfaces are flat and parallel), which modulates the effective transmission of the device as a function of wavelength and can thus influence the laser bandwidth. In a mode-locked laser, such effects (even at a very low level) can cause instabilities. A way to avoid such problems is to use a slightly wedged output coupler, so that the reflected light from the backside does not interfere with the laser modes.
Variable Reflectivity Mirrors
In the case of stable optical resonators, the output coupler mirror usually has a spatially constant output coupler transmission (see below). Output couplers of unstable resonators can be very different: they are often variable reflectivity mirrors, having a transversely variable reflectance e.g. with a Gaussian or super-Gaussian profile, possibly even with total reflection within some radius and total transmission outside that radius.
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Suppliers
The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 28 suppliers for output couplers. Among them:
OPTOMAN

Output couplers, as intracavity components, have to handle extreme energy densities. That is why OPTOMAN coatings are optimized for a high damage threshold, which can exceed 168 J/cm2 at 1064 nm, 9.8 ns. OPTOMAN is able to make output couplers optimized for ultrafast lasers that feature negligible GDD, both in reflection and transmission.
Standard in-stock IBS coated optics can be found in OPTOSHOP.
EKSMA OPTICS

We offer a wide choice of laser output couplers designed for Nd3+ host lasers operating in the 1040–1070 nm range and for femtosecond Ti:sapphire or Yb:KGW/KYW lasers.
2023-12-26
Is it possible to have a laser with two output couplers one at each side? Are there any commercial lasers like this?
The author's answer:
Sure, you can use multiple output couplers. However, it is usually not considered attractive to have multiple output beams; one usually prefers having all power in one beam, which gives the users highest flexibility. Splitting a single beam into two beams with some beam splitter is easy, while beam combining is rather tricky.