Pulsed ti: sapphire laser power amplifier
We have demonstrated an all solid state Ti:Sapphire laser system consisting of a power oscillator and single pass amplifier. The electrical-to-optical efficiency far exceeds that of the current CW systems. The pump lasers have lower capital and operating costs than the Argon-ion laser. In the future, we plan to scale the output power to higher levels by adding a fourth pump laser and improving the output power of the current pump lasers. Modeling results suggest that a large increase in efficiency can be realized by improving the beam quality of the pump lasers, even at the cost of reduced output power. We will explore this option by adding apertures to the cavity and/or reducing the rod diameter along with optimizing the resonator design. Other improvements in efficiency which will be investigated include double passing the amplifier for better extraction. To complete this work, the laser system will be converted into a two-stage amplifier. A narrow band, lower power oscillator currently under development will be injected in to the amplifier to study the extraction and efficiency characteristics of the amplifier throughout the tuning range of Ti:Sapphire. Detailed beam quality measurements will also be made. Other work will include doubling the narrow band output for materials processing applications.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-Eng-48
- OSTI ID:
- 8172
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-ID-133449; 98-ERD-069; ON: DE00008172
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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