Phase conjugation and pulse compression of high energy lasers: From nanoseconds to microseconds
SBS phase conjugation is playing a crucial role in the scaling of solid state laser systems to high average power. Amplifier systems with near diffraction limited beam quality have been demonstrated with average power outputs of 100W in Nd:glass and Nd:YAG. Wavefront correction provided by an SBS phase conjugate mirror not only significantly lowers the output divergence of the laser, it also increases the maximum average power obtainable by preventing damage to optical components caused by distortion of the beam profile due to uncorrected thermally induced aberrations. The output pulsewidth format required for applications of high average power pulsed solid state lasers is extremely varied, ranging from below a nanosecond to many microseconds. However, most demonstrated applications of SBS phase conjugation to high average power laser systems have involved the amplification of typical Q-switched oscillator pulses of 7--30 ns in duration. Based on the requirements imposed by specific applications for high average power solid state laser systems, we have investigated and demonstrated the operation of SBS phase conjugated amplifier systems with output pulsewidths ranging from 1 ns to 1 {mu}s. The specific considerations for the various pulsewidth regimes as well as details of the experimental investigations will be presented.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 10190008
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-114059; CONF-9308186-1; ON: DE94001061
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. international school and topical meeting on applications of nonlinear optics,Prague (Czech Republic),16-20 Aug 1993; Other Information: PBD: 1 Jun 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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