Formation of picosecond pulses by stimulated Raman backscattering

The example of stimulated Raman backscattering of picosecond pulses in a CaCO₃ crystal confirmed experimentally the principal estimates of the optimal conditions for pulse compression (shortening) in focused beams. The duration of the second harmonic of a YAG:Nd³⁺ laser was reduced by a factor of 10–20 and at the same time the power was increased by a factor of 4–8. The minimum duration of the Stokes pulses formed as a result of stimulated Raman scattering compression was ~2 psec.