Optical Pumps for Holmium Lasers.

Abstract

The purpose of the program is to produce more efficient pulsed optical pumps for use with holmium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride laser materials (Ho:YLF). Prior to this program, the best efficiency obtained was a lasing threshold at 8 joules input and 20 mJ laser output at 10 joules input. The most efficient optical pump now appears to be a clear fused quartz lamp of 2.5 to 3.0 mm bore diameter filled with xenon to high pressure, e.g., 4500 torr, and operated with a simmer current. The Mode I goal of 30 mJ output for 10 J input has been exceeded by a factor of two using a 3 mm bore, 3000 torr lamp. However, the Mode II goal of 100 mJ output for 10 J input will require further lamp improvements and perhaps cavity improvements as well. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0777810

Entities

People

  • Harry Flentz
  • Lowell Noble
  • Robert Maynard

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ceramic Materials
  • Diameters
  • Efficiency
  • Fluorides
  • High Pressure
  • Laser Materials
  • Materials
  • Optical Materials
  • Silica Glass

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers