Cavity Dump-PTM Nd:Laser.
Abstract
Three major areas have been investigated with regard to obtaining high PRF/high average power operation from a solid state YAG:Nd laser: (1) application of high speed electro-optic modulation techniques to a high average power low gain laser device; (2) temporal modulation format required to obtain stable and efficient pulsed operation at PRF's between the classically accepted PTM and Cavity Dump (CD) frequency limits; (3) pulsed operation of DC Krypton arc lamp at 10 Hz (25% duty cycle) and subsequent pulse burst lasing at high PRF's. Employment of a dual crystal Pockels cell, fast switching modulator electronics with a variable duty cycle, and a hybrid resonator configuration has resulted in the attainment of stable Q-switched pulse trains over the PRF range of 0.1 to 1 MHz. During pulsed operation, overall efficiency was 85% of the CW maximum value, pulsewidth was 40 nanoseconds, pulse amplitude stability better than + or - 10%, and average power levels exceeding 10 watts were obtained. Over the 0.1 to 1 MHz range, average output power and pulsewidth were found to be independent of PRF. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA037193
Entities
People
- Gary D. Baldwin
- John L. Wentz