Thermally induced distortion of high average power laser system by an optical transport system
The atomic vapor laser isotope separation process uses high-average power lasers that have the commercial potential to enrich uranium for the electric power utilities. The transport of the laser beam through the laser system to the separation chambers requires high performance optical components, most of which have either fused silica or Zerodur as the substrate material. One of the requirements of the optical components is to preserve the wavefront quality of the laser beam that propagate over long distances. Full aperture tests with the high power process lasers and finite element analysis (FEA) have been performed on the transport optics. The wavefront distortions of the various sections of the transport path were measured with diagnostic Hartmann sensor packages. The FEA results were derived from an in-house thermal-structural-optical code which is linked to the commercially available CodeV program. In comparing the measured and predicted results, the bulk absorptance of fused silica was estimated to about 50 ppm/cm in the visible wavelength regime. Wavefront distortions are reported on optics made from fused silica and Zerodur substrate materials.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 9802
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-133728; TRN: US0103199
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 44th Annual Meeting of the SPIE International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, Denver, CO (US), 07/18/1999--07/23/1999; Other Information: PBD: 31 Mar 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Wavefront correction system based on an equilateral triangular arrangement of actuators
Initial Demonstration of Mercury Wavefront Correction System