Optoelectronics Diode-Pumped Rare Gas Lasers
Abstract
In recent years, there have been concerted efforts to develop high-power diode-pumped alkali vapor lasers (DPAL) for weapons applications. These hybrid gas phase / solid-state laser systems offer possibilities for constructing high-powered lasers with excellent beam quality. However, efforts to scale DPAL's have encountered two technical challenges that stem from the chemically aggressive nature of alkali metal vapors. The first problem is photo-induced chemical damage of the windows that confine the gain medium. The second is reaction of the alkali metal with the spin-orbit relaxation agent that sustains the population inversion (typically, methane or ethane). This produces particulate matter in the gain medium ("laser snow"), and consumes both the hydrocarbon and the metal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 07, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1097889
Entities
People
- Michael C Heaven
Organizations
- Emory University