Review of Recent Capability Improvements in Ultrashort Pulse Laser Sources: Closing the Relevancy Gap for Directed Energy Applications
Abstract
Recent developments indicate the horizon for directed energy applications using ultrashort pulse lasers (USPLs) is quickly approaching. Historically, USPLs were mainly confined to laboratory applications due to strict environmental requirements and complex operations requiring a high degree of operator education. These USPLs were based on solid-state technology involving titanium:sapphire gain material, which is highly intolerant of temperature and humidity changes, vibrations, and atmospheric particulates. The new generation of USPLs have moved to new gain materials and new architectures that have realized not only an improvement in environmental tolerance but also significant reductions in size, weight, and power consumption metrics. This led to new classes of USPLs that have achieved average powers and pulse repetition rates orders of magnitude higher than commercially available systems from as late as 2015.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1125446
Entities
People
- Anthony Valenzuela
- Daniel Matyas
Organizations
- United States Army