PULSED LASER OSCILLATOR - ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT MODEL.
Abstract
The report contains the engineering information obtained during development and fabrication of a 5-kc repetition rate pulsed laser oscillator. The three systems delivered to USAERDL met or exceeded the following specifications: An average output power of 1 watt, a wavelength of 1.065 microns, a divergence of the output light of 10 milliradians or less, room temperature operation, self-contained, a required electrical input of 1500 watts at 110 volts and 60 cycles per second, and, for prolonged operation, a supply of external cooling water at a flow rate of 40 cubic centimeters per second. The development was made possible throught the use of the laser material Yttrium Aluminum Garnet doped with trivalent Neodymium. In the YAG host, Nd(+++) has a cross-section for stimulated emission nearly two order of magnitude larger than for a glass host. For this reason, the threshold for laser action is low compared to the more common ruby and glass lasers, and further, because gain and cross-section are intimately related, short time duration pulses with low energy content can be obtained. This combination of properties makes possible high repetition rates at power input levels compatible with simple cooling systems. In addition, the relatively long lifetime of the Nd(+++) ion in the metastable state permits incandescent lamps to be used for the optical pump, thus, greatly simplifying the auxiliary equipment. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0806964
Entities
People
- W. J. Woodbury
Organizations
- Hughes Aircraft Company