Nanosecond switching and amplification of multiline HF laser pulses

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1977.1069316· OSTI ID:7295008

Getzinger, R W ^[1]; Ware, K D; Carpenter, J P; Schott, G L

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1. Office of U.S. Senator P.V. Domenici, Washington, DC

Electrooptic gating and amplification of pulses with durations from 1 to 5 ns were accomplished with a pulsed HF chemical laser system using SF/sub 6/-hydrocarbon media and transverse-discharge energization. The system comprised an apertured, pin-discharge multitiline oscillator, a MgF/sub 2/ Rochon prism polarizer, a Pockels-effect, fast electrooptic switch, a 5 : 1 magnifying telescope, and a 22-mm dia. approximately 5-MW TEA amplifier, together with several arrangements of polarization analyzer elements. A 5-mm, square-sectioned electrooptic crystal of CdTe or LiNbO/sub 3/ yielded polarization contrast ratios of approximately 80 : 1 under zero and half-wave electric fields. Without other measures, this contrast in gated amplitude was diminished in passage through the partially gain-saturated amplifier. However, 80 : 1 amplitude contrast in the gated, amplified pulse was preserved when the full oscillator beam intensity was used continuously to control the amplifier gain. This was done either with a polarization discriminator placed downstream of the amplifier, or with the two polarized components from the gate taking separate directions, intersecting within the amplifier.

• OSTI ID: 7295008
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States) Vol. QE-13:4; ISSN IEJQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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