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U.S. Department of Energy
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Technique for precise alignment of small diameter lasers

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5438698
This report describes one technique used to obtain precise alignment of small diameter lasers. This procedure may be useful in the alignment of other lasers, but is especially valuable when aligning lasers that have a small diameter active medium and/or a curved mirror at one end of the laser cavity. The technique described in this report uses a He-Ne laser at one end of the laser being aligned and an autocollimator at the opposite end. These instruments are used to generate and observe the diffraction pattern and interference fringes caused by the limiting aperture of the lasing medium and the end mirrors of the cavity, respectively. These patterns and fringes are used both to establish a common optical axis between the active volume of the laser being aligned and the aligning instruments, and to set the end mirrors of the cavity normal to this axis.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5438698
Report Number(s):
SAND-75-0287C; CONF-800719-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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