Coupled Multiline CW HF Lasers: Experimental Performance
Abstract
The experimental performance of two coupled arc-driven continuous wave HF chemical lasers employing unstable resonators has been measured. Mode- matched adjoint coupling of 20% was accomplished with a beamsplitter. Multiline interference fringes were obtained when the two laser output beams were overlapped in the near field. The mutual coherence of the two beams was inferred from measurement of the visibility of these fringes. SIngle line fringe visibility was measured as 98% +/- 2% for each of the two strongest lines. These data suggest that the two outputs are nearly completely phase-locked. This locking was found to be insensitive to perturbations in the lengths of the laser resonators. Mode-beating measurements also suggest complete phase locking, as the coupled system behaves like a single laser cavity. The coherent combination of the two laser output beams was attempted by minimizing the optical path difference between these beams, at an external measuring station. This was achieved by changing the external path length of one beam until maximum multiline visibility (97%) was obtained. Demonstration of the corresponding far- field peak intensity enhancement and reduction in spot size for the combined outputs was also accomplished. Keywords: Laser resonators; Lasers Phased array.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA210844
Entities
People
- H. Mirels
- J. M. Bernard
- R. A. Chodzko
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation