Composite polymer: Glass edge cladding for laser disks

Patent · Mon Nov 02 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6048455

Powell, H T; Wolfe, C A; Campbell, J H; Murray, J E; Riley, M O; Lyon, R E; Jessop, E S

Large neodymium glass laser disks for disk amplifiers such as those used in the Nova laser require an edge cladding which absorbs at 1 micrometer. This cladding prevents edge reflections from causing parasitic oscillations which would otherwise deplete the gain. Nova now utilizes volume-absorbing monolithic-glass claddings which are fused at high temperature to the disks. These perform quite well but are expensive to produce. Absorbing glass strips are adhesively bonded to the edges of polygonal disks using a bonding agent whose index of refraction matches that of both the laser and absorbing glass. Optical finishing occurs after the strips are attached. Laser disks constructed with such claddings have shown identical gain performance to the previous Nova disks and have been tested for hundreds of shots without significant degradation. 18 figs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): PATENTS-US-A7116806
• Application Number: ON: DE89011784
• OSTI ID: 6048455
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
ABSORPTION
ADHESION
CLADDING
DEPOSITION
EPOXIDES
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
GLASS
INVENTIONS
OPTICAL EQUIPMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OSCILLATIONS
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERS
STRESSES
SURFACE COATING
THERMAL STRESSES