Hybrid solid state laser system using a neodymium-based master oscillator and an ytterbium-based power amplifier

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873652

Payne, Stephen A ^[1]; Marshall, Christopher D ^[2]; Powell, Howard T ^[2]; Krupke, William F ^[3]

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1. Castro Valley, CA
2. Livermore, CA
3. Pleasanton, CA

In a master oscillator-power amplifier (MOPA) hybrid laser system, the master oscillator (MO) utilizes a Nd.sup.3+ -doped gain medium and the power amplifier (PA) utilizes a diode-pumped Yb.sup.3+ -doped material. The use of two different laser gain media in the hybrid MOPA system provides advantages that are otherwise not available. The Nd-doped gain medium preferably serves as the MO because such gain media offer the lowest threshold of operation and have already been engineered as practical systems. The Yb-doped gain medium preferably serves in the diode-pumped PA to store pump energy effectively and efficiently by virtue of the long emission lifetime, thereby reducing diode pump costs. One crucial constraint on the MO and PA gain media is that the Nd and Yb lasers must operate at nearly the same wavelength. The 1.047 .mu.m Nd:YLF/Yb:S-FAP [Nd:LiYF.sub.4 /Yb:Sr.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.3 F] hybrid MOPA system is a preferred embodiment of the hybrid Nd/Yb MOPA.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6212215
• OSTI ID: 873652
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

hybrid
solid
laser
neodymium-based
master
oscillator
ytterbium-based
power
amplifier
oscillator-power
mopa
utilizes
-doped
medium
diode-pumped
material
media
provides
advantages
otherwise
available
nd-doped
preferably
serves
offer
lowest
threshold
operation
engineered
practical
systems
yb-doped
store
pump
energy
effectively
efficiently
virtue
emission
lifetime
reducing
diode
costs
crucial
constraint
lasers
operate
nearly
wavelength
047
ylf
s-fap
liyf
sr
preferred
embodiment
power amplifier
preferred embodiment
master oscillator
pump energy
oscillator-power amplifier
diode pump
master oscillator-power
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