Title :
Multipulse operation of a high average power, good beam quality zig-zag dye laser
Author :
Mandl, Alexander ; Klimek, Daniel E.
Author_Institution :
Textron Defense Syst., Everett, MA, USA
fDate :
3/1/1996 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A laser pumped zig-zag dye laser operating at 568 nm with a pulse length ~2 μs has been sealed to high power using a MOPA configuration. Pulse energies in excess of 7 J with beam quality <2 XDL have been achieved under repetitively pulsed, 10 Hz operation. RMS jitter was measured as 0.12 of a 1 XDL spot. The device has operated with over 70 W output for runs up to 5 s. Substantially longer run times and output powers are possible. This device represents an advance in dye laser capabilities. Improvement in pointing accuracy of better than an order of magnitude have been demonstrated. In addition, an improvement in beam quality by about an order of magnitude has been achieved compared to other dye lasers operating in this power range
Keywords :
dye lasers; jitter; laser beams; 10 Hz; 2 mus; 5 s; 568 nm; 7 J; 70 W; MOPA configuration; RMS jitter; beam quality; good beam quality zig-zag dye laser; high average power; high power; laser pumped zig-zag dye laser; master oscillator power amplifier mode; multipulse operation; output powers; pointing accuracy; pulse energies; pulse length; repetitively pulsed 10 Hz operation; run times; Laser beams; Laser excitation; Laser feedback; Optical feedback; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Optical resonators; Power lasers; Pump lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
