Design of a high-gain laser diode-array pumped Nd:YAG alternating precessive slab amplifier (APS amplifier)

In the design of space-qualifiable laser systems for ranging and altimetry, such as NASA´s geodynamic laser ranging system (GLRS), the transmitter must be kept small, powerful yet efficient, and must consist of as few components as possible. The author reports on a unique preamplifier design which satisfies these requirements, and is suitable as the first amplifier stage following a laser, with an output of 1 mJ per pulse. It requires no external beam-steering optics, yielding a compact component with simple alignment procedures. The gains achieved are comparable to multipass zigzag amplifiers using two or more sets of external optics for extra passes through the amplifying medium