Optical: systems and elements – Optical amplifier – Correction of deleterious effects
Patent
1995-10-10
1997-07-08
Moskowitz, Nelson
Optical: systems and elements
Optical amplifier
Correction of deleterious effects
359343, 359347, H01S 309, H01S 306
Patent
active
056467737
ABSTRACT:
A solid-state laser architecture producing a beam of extremely high quality and brightness, including a master oscillator operating in conjunction with a zig-zag amplifier, an image relaying telescope and a phase conjugation cell. One embodiment of the laser architecture compensates for birefringence that is thermally induced in the amplifier, but injects linearly polarized light into the phase conjugation cell. Another embodiment injects circularly polarized light into the phase conjugation cell and includes optical components that eliminate birefringence effects arising in a first pass through the amplifier. Optional features permit the use of a frequency doubler assembly to provide output at twice optical frequencies, and an electro-optical switch or Faraday rotator to effect polarization angle rotation if the amplifier material can only be operated at one polarization. The zig-zag amplifier is cooled by flow of cooling liquid, preferably using longitudinal flow to minimize temperature gradients in a vertical direction, and has cooling channel seals disposed in dead zones that receive no light, to minimize optical damage to the seals. Light is input to the amplifier at a near normal angle of incidence, to minimize polarization by reflection and to permit a polarizer to be used to extract an output beam from the amplifier. Antireflective coatings on edges and on sides of the amplifier eliminate parasitic oscillations, and wedge-shaped windows provide uniform pumping by eliminating gaps between diode arrays.
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Harpole George M.
Hilyard Rodger C.
Hoefer Carolyn S.
Injeyan Hagop
St. Pierre Randall J.
Moskowitz Nelson
TRW Inc.
Yatsko Michael S.
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