Laser Pump Lamp

Abstract

A program was conducted to continue development of a potassium- rubidium arc lamp for laser pumping. The average useful lifetime of such lamps was significantly increased, primarily as the result of improved lamp end seal technology. Life-times of nickel and Kovar endcap lamps built at the end of the program were typically in the 600-1000 hour range. The primary lamp failure mode was basal plane cleavage cracking of the sapphire envelopes. Difficulty in obtaining good CVD niobium-to-sapphire seal assemblies from outside suppliers hampered development work on the alternative protected end seal lamp design. One lamp was life tested, failing at 182 hours. Experiments on laser pumping efficiency were conducted. Efficiency was found to be roughly proportional to the potassium:rubidium ratio in the lamp fill. Four millimeter bore lamps were found to be more efficient than standard five millimeter bore lamps.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADB017604

Entities

People

  • Norman C. Anderson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Alkali Metals
  • Assembly
  • Base Metal
  • Brazing Alloys
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Vapor Deposition
  • Chemistry
  • Crystal Structure
  • End Seals
  • Energy
  • Fabrication
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • High Temperature
  • Life Tests
  • Materials
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers