Determination of the thermal lens in solid-state lasers with stablecavities

A useful method to determine the thermal lens in a thermally loaded material inside a laser resonator under operation is presented. The laser beam emitted is focused with a lens placed exactly at the distance of its focal length behind the output mirror. For stable spherical resonators this focusing is not astigmatic even for an astigmatic cavity. This fact is used to experimentally determine the thermal lens including the beam quality factor (beam propagation factor) M² of the laser beam. Measurements are presented for an end-pumped rod and a longitudinally pumped slab laser serving as an example for an astigmatic cavity     

Yb:YAG板条激光器谐振腔设计与光束质量测量

为了提高二极管抽运Yb:YAG/YAG复合板条激光器的输出光束质量,研究了复合板条内的热透镜效应,分析了复合板条在宽度和厚度方向的热透镜焦距,以及热透镜对谐振腔模式的影响,设计了混合谐振腔,并对该谐振腔输出光束质量进行了分析。采用角抽运复合板条方法,实现了千瓦级Yb:YAG/YAG复合板条激光器连续运转。采用CCD照相法测量了输出激光的光束质量,在500W连续输出时,光束质量M2因子在板条宽度方向和厚度方向分别优于20和5。实验结果表明,在复合板条激光器中可以采用混合谐振腔获得较好光束质量的激光输出。     

高功率Bounce板条放大器链路热补偿仿真及实验验证

对Bounce抽运结构的高功率板条激光放大器进行热仿真,采用有限元数值分析获得了放大光束通过板条后的光程差分布,利用二阶矩法计算出Bounce抽运热效应引入的相位畸变对光束质量M2的影响,为放大链路热效应的补偿给出指导。在采用高效传导冷却设计的三级板条级联放大链路实验装置中,实验测得的每一放大级热焦距值与理论预期吻合良好。当放大器链路工作在250Hz重复频率时,插入热补偿中继光路,最终获得单脉冲能量537mJ的输出,光束质量因子M2x=2.35,My2=2.66。     

半导体侧面抽运板条激光器光束质量优化

为了优化高功率板条激光器的光束质量, 采用提高单侧基模光束的尺寸来限制腔内部分高阶模式振荡的方法, 针对半导体侧面抽运板条激光器, 测量了激光器在抽运状态下水平和竖直方向热焦距, 建立了热透镜等效模型, 并以平-平腔为参考, 设计了水平和竖直方向单侧基模尺寸均会扩大的平-凹腔。验证了对于激光介质截面尺寸固定的板条激光器, 扩大单侧基模尺寸可以限制高阶模式从而优化光束质量, 并提出了进一步优化板条激光器性能的研究方法。结果表明, 当平-凹腔的腔长为370mm时, 输出功率为59.9W, 水平方向M2因子由平-平腔的115.6显著优化至32.9, 竖直方向M2因子由116.4显著优化为60.9。该研究对于板条激光器获得高质量输出及相关应用有实际意义。     

100-watt average output power 1.2 diffraction limited beam frompulsed neodymium single-rod amplifier with SBS phase conjugation

We describe a solid-state master oscillator-amplifier-laser (MOPA) with a minimum number of elements for the double-pass single-rod amplifier. It produces 100-W average output power of pulsed light with an almost diffraction limited beam. The Q-switched system works with an average repetition rate of about 3 kHz and the pulse width was 70 ns. As active material we used Nd:YALO (Nd:YAP) which has negligible depolarization. The strong thermal lens of the material with focal lengths of less than 15 cm at pump powers of 8 kW was compensated by a phase conjugating mirror based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). Therefore, the output power could be varied from 2 W up to 100 W without changing the transversal beam profile. The total efficiency of the amplifier including the phase conjugator is 1.25%     

Compact violet lasers by second-harmonic generation in KTP waveguides

Periodically segmented waveguides were fabricated in flux-grown KTP for quasi-phasematched second-harmonic generation (SHG) of a light beam with a wavelength of 425 nm. Diode-pumped violet laser sources are proposed on the basis of these waveguides. We shall show that a pulsed operation of the pump diode laser at a 940 MHz repetition rate enables the construction of sources with a very compact geometry, which are insensitive to temperature fluctuations. These sources may still be considered as quasi-continuous wave (cw) for applications in high-density optical recording.The most compact type of violet laser source has a size of 1 × 1 × 2 cm³. It contains only the diode pump laser, the KTP waveguide and a miniature lens to couple the pump beam to the waveguide. Time-averaged violet output powers up to 85 μW have been generated for many hours at room temperature without requiring an active temperature control. This output power may be sufficient for reading an optical disc.By optical feedback of a portion of the transmitted pump beam via an external grating it is possible to generate higher violet powers. In this way, the pump laser is forced to operate in a single spectral mode, the wavelength of which can be tuned to coincide with the phase-matching wavelength of the waveguide. This grating-controlled laser system is shown to generate a 425 nm beam with powers up to 0.5 mW. The total length of the device is about 7 cm.     

Power scaling of diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers

The evaluation of pump capability and scaling the output power of Nd:YVO/sub 4/ (vanadate) lasers are presented in this paper. Taking into account thermal fracture limitation and fundamental mode operation, systematic investigations of vanadate crystals have been conducted in an effort to scale the output power of diode-pumped lasers to higher levels. Based on the limitation of pump power, the input versus output power and beam propagation factor of vanadate lasers are optimized with knowledge of the thermal lensing effect and maximum pump power. The theoretical analyzes provide a good prediction for the output power of diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ lasers, which is in agreement with the experiment. A practical example of a single-end-pumped vanadate laser is demonstrated with continuous-wave output powers of 9.8 W in the TEM/sub oo/ mode and 12.4 W in multimode.     

热畸变对单板条热容激光器输出的影响

开展了激光二极管(LD)抽运的全固态热容激光器的理论与实验研究,数值模拟了在热容工作条件下侧面抽运的Nd∶YAG板条激光器的热透镜效应,分析了热透镜效应对激光输出的影响,并进行了相应的实验论证。实验中采用的晶体尺寸为57mm×40mm×4mm,激光二极管阵列的抽运峰值功率为12kW,重复频率为1kHz,占空比为20%,为了获得较高的增益,将抽运光通过光学系统进行聚焦,抽运光在晶体侧面的光斑大小为15mm×57mm.实验中观察了1s内的脉冲能量输出的波动情况,在开始工作的时候单脉冲能量输出为1J,在1s后单脉冲能量输出下降到开始的50%。     

非稳腔大功率绿光激光器的研究

为了提高激光的光束质量和提供准直的平行光束,为抽运钛宝石提供优良的大功率的绿光抽运源,对激光二极管侧面抽运Nd:YAG声光调Q腔内倍频固体激光器进行了研究.实验中采用凸平直线非稳腔,将凸面镜和增益介质热透镜效应等效为望远镜系统进行分析.由实验可知,凸平非稳腔具有较大模体积、良好的稳定性等优点;利用二类相位匹配的磷酸钛氧钾晶体进行腔内倍频,当抽运功率为200W时,获得脉宽109ns、重复频率9.3kHz、发散角小于2mrad的42W绿光输出,光光转换效率达到21%,24h长时间的工作,不稳定性小于2%.结果表明,利用非稳腔腔型,在侧面抽运的模块中可以实现高效的大功率绿光输出.     

High-Power Broadband Ytterbium-Doped Helical-Core Fiber Superfluorescent Source

Highly efficient operation of a double-clad ytterbium-doped helical-core fiber in a superfluorescent (nonlasing) configuration has been demonstrated. The fiber was cladding-pumped by a diode-stack at 976 nm and yielded 107 W of amplified spontaneous emission from the two ends of the fiber for 168 W of absorbed pump power in an output beam with a beam propagation factor (M²) of 2.8. At pump powers over 40 W, the slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power was 76%. The emission spectrum spanned the wavelength range from 1030 to 1160 nm and the bandwidth (full-width at half-maximum) was 37 nm     

基于300μm微片激光器生成涡旋空心光束的研究

为了探究涡旋空心光束在端面抽运Nd∶YVO₄微片激光器中的生成条件及其变化因素,构建了一种基于轴棱锥-透镜组生成环形抽运光的新方法。采用ZEMAX对抽运光进行了仿真分析,并基于热效应分析进行了模式匹配计算,通过实验成功得到了环形抽运光和环形空心激光输出,并通过实验验证了输出光为1阶涡旋光。结果表明,该方法能够生成光束大小可控的808nm抽运光,其光斑半径可随轴棱锥锥顶与透镜焦平面的相对位置快速变化;并且该抽运光能够使谐振腔长度为300μm的微片激光器输出稳定的1064nm 1阶拉盖尔-高斯涡旋空心光束。此研究结果对于微片激光器输出涡旋空心光束的实际方法的建立具有重要的指导意义。     

Measurements of intrinsic efficiency and parameters of an electronbeam pumped ArXe laser

Measurements of the output energy and intrinsic efficiency of an electron-beam-pumped ArXe laser operating on the 1.73-μm line are reported. A 220-kV electron beam was used to pump either an 11×11×50 cm³ or an 11×11×25 cm³ active volume. Small-signal gain, nonsaturable loss, and saturation flux were deduced from a Rigrod analysis of the output energies as a function of output coupler reflectivity. Electron beam pump powers ranging from 2.2 to 16.2 kW/cm³ were employed. At a pump power of 2.2 kW/cm³ a small signal of 0.035 cm^-1 , a gain-to-loss ratio of 272, and a saturation flux of 2.1 kW/cm ² were determined. Intrinsic efficiencies of 4% were obtained at the lower pump powers. From the measurements of the laser output it is clear that the secondary electrons have a significant impact on the laser kinetics and efficiency     

The output beam quality of a Q-switched Nd:glass slablaser

The authors have constructed and tested a flashlamp pumped, Q -switched, Nd:glass zigzag slab laser. The thermally induced optical distortion through the slab is minimized by uniform pumping and cooling and the use of corrective pump shields at the slab ends. The laser spatial output for Q-switched resonators has been measured and modeled. It is shown that a large aperture planar oscillator has an output divergence many times above the diffraction limit. Operation as a one-dimensional unstable resonator in the wide direction of the slab allows the efficient extraction of energy in a high-quality beam. Near-diffraction-limited laser output of 5 J at 4 Hz is achieved with a resonator that includes an intracavity telescope to correct for residual defocusing in the thin direction of the slab     

固体激光器热透镜焦距的自适应补偿

针对光泵浦固体激光器的热透镜效应,设计了热透镜焦距的自适应补偿系统,使光泵浦固体激光器在热透镜焦距宽域变化情况下,保持激光输出光斑大小稳定     

光学暗室内杂散激光能量分布模型仿真与测量

为了模拟1.06μm脉冲激光在暗室内壁多次漫反射后的能量分布,在对暗室内激光目标反射特性研究的基础上提出了神经网络叠加的算法,并建立了暗室内杂散激光能量分布数学模型;利用模型仿真得到了入射能量为1J的1.06μm脉冲激光漫反射能量分布图,分布图表明暗室的整体消光性能较好,但是个别壁面存在局部较强的反射区域,该区域的激光能量最大值约为3.5×10-4J;通过模型的理论计算与实际验证测量分别得到了监测探头的能量密度理论值与实测值,对两组数据的比对分析表明,理论值与实测值的最大和最小相对误差分别为10.7%与1.3%,并且两者的分布规律一致。结果表明,此模型具有较高的可信度和仿真精度,能够满足内场仿真试验的实际需求。     

热透镜球差效应对基模光束质量影响的研究

研究了激光晶体热透镜的球差效应对谐振腔的输出光束质量、腔内损耗和输出功率等特性的影响。通过对二极管端面抽运条件下激光晶体的热效应进行分析,计算了热透镜球差系数的大小,得到了激光晶体热透镜球差系数与抽运光功率和振荡激光半径间的函数关系。实验验证了球差效应对激光谐振腔中基模光束质量的影响,与理论分析符合得很好。     

Performance of composite glass slab laser

Three-layer composite glass slab lasers were fabricated using optical contact and thermal fusion methods, and their characteristics were examined in an attempt to develop a high-peak-power glass laser able to deliver a high-quality beam at a high repetition rate operation. The optical characteristics, laser characteristics, and limitation of the output of these composite slabs and the monolithic slab are compared. It is found that thermal birefringence effects were reduced in the case of the composite slabs in comparison to the monolithic slab at the same output during repetitive operation, thereby maintaining a high level of beam quality. A doping amount of Nd₂O₃ of 6 wt.% was optimum for increasing the single pass gain of the composite slabs. An optimum thickness of doping layer exists for keeping gain high while maintaining thermal birefringence effects at a low level     

LD抽运高重复频率四通放大MOPA系统中的光纤相位共轭研究

报道了利用多模光纤作为相位共轭镜应用于重复频率100Hz。脉宽20ns的电光调Q四通放大LD抽运激光器的实验研究。由于光纤受激布里渊散射(SBS)存在的阈值效应，可以抑止使用平面全反镜的四通放大系统中难以克服的放大级自振荡(SO)和放大自发辐射(ASE)效应．以获得高能量高光束质量的激光输出。实验中在20ns．100Hz和注入光纤能量4．6mJ的情况下获得了4．1mJ的1064nm的基模激光输出。激光光束模式接近TEMoo模．且脉宽被压缩至4．7ns。在使用了光纤相位共轭镜的四通放大技术后，很好地补偿了由板条放大器热效应造成的光斑畸变。输出光斑很好地复原了振荡级输出光斑的光强空间分布。     

高功率激光二极管端面抽运复合晶体激光器的研究

在高功率激光二极管抽运固体激光器中,热效应已成为获得高输出功率和高光束质量的最大阻碍因素.用有限元方法研究了高功率激光二极管端面抽运Nd∶YVO4激光器中热透镜分布规律,提出了用复合晶体消除热透镜效应的方法.研究表明在端面抽运的传统单一Nd∶YVO4晶体激光器中,由于抽运功率密度很高,热透镜效应非常严重,由端面变形而造成的热透镜效应约占整个热透镜效应的50%;而采用复合晶体能够很好地消除由端面变形而造成的热透镜效应,同时得到很好的冷却效果,获得比采用传统单一晶体高出许多的基模输出功率和更好的光束质量.实验证明,采用复合结构晶体在23 W的抽运功率水平下得到了11 W的基模输出功率,光束质量因子M2 <1 5,光光转换效率达到48%.     

CCD测量LD端面抽运Nd∶GdVO_4固体激光器热焦距

为研究Nd∶GdVO4晶体在激光二极管(LD)端面抽运固体激光器中的热效应,给出了一种测量激光器稳态运转时腔内激活介质热透镜焦距的简便方法。采用CCD光束分析仪直接测量输出光束的M2因子及束腰大小,根据混合模类高斯光束传输理论推导出相应的基模高斯光束束腰大小,由此利用稳定谐振腔的传输矩阵理论可得到相应的激光介质的热焦距。实验结果表明,抽运功率越高,热焦距越小,热效应对输出光束质量影响越严重。基于上述原理,对LD端面抽运的Nd∶GdVO4固体激光器热透镜焦距进行了测量,实验结果和理论分析相符。