Ultra-High Rejection Optical Filters

Abstract

We developed a theoretical model for a novel optical filter called the Laser Induced Optical Filter (LIDOF). The model showed that a 500-W power pump laser should be able to pump the LIDOF hard enough to generate a signal throughput of 80%. A custom pulsed dye laser pump has been built, tested, and delivered. This pump laser has a 0.07/cm linewidth and an output power of 3.6 kW; the LIDOF requires a linewidth of < 0.1/cm and a pump power of 500 W. Thus, our pump laser exceeds the requirements of the LIDOF. In addition, the LIDOF head, including the Na2 heat pipe, the polarizers, the photodetectors, and the pump and signal separating optics, have all been designed, assembled, and tested. The hardware for the testing of this filter has been delivered. The final LIDOF testing was not completed due to the lack of a suitable test source. We also designed, built, and delivered a working Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter that operates at the Na D2 line. This filter was tested using an Air Force Research Laboratory test oscillator and the Na filter met specifications.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 13, 1998
Accession Number
ADA356316

Entities

People

  • T. M. Shay

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Analyzers
  • Detectors
  • Dye Lasers
  • Energy Levels
  • Filters
  • Ground State
  • Heat Pipes
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Pumping
  • Lasers
  • Liquid Dye Lasers
  • Optical Filters
  • Optics
  • Polarizers
  • Spectra

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers