2μm人眼安全波段太阳光抽运激光器的理论研究

太阳光直接抽运激光器在空间光通信、遥感等领域有着重要的潜在应用,但是一直以来人们对太阳光抽运激光器的研究局限于以掺Nd3+粒子为增益介质的1μm波段.通过对现有固体激光工作物质的吸收谱进行分析,发现掺Tm3+离子在太阳辐射较强的可见光波段具有强的吸收峰,使2μm人眼安全波段实现太阳光直接抽运激光输出成为可能.本文对Tm:YAG和Tm:YAP两种常见晶体的吸收谱与太阳光谱匹配度进行了分析计算,得出两种材料用于太阳光抽运激光器的阈值抽运功率密度分别为1.14和1.434 kW/cm3.选择与抽运阈值功率密度低的Tm:YAG晶体作为增益介质,使用TracePro软件建立太阳光抽运激光器的二级抽运模型,并对模型进行优化,得到了锥形腔窗口与菲涅耳透镜的最佳距离、晶体棒的最佳长度以及锥形腔最佳锥度.本文的工作为实现太阳光直接抽运2μm激光输出做了理论上的准备.     

端侧面组合抽运DPL热透镜效应研究

通过数值计算发现：在端侧面组合抽运DPL中,晶体横截面上的温度分布接近于轴对称分布,并且端面抽运功率占有率越大,温度分布越接近于轴对称分布。将端侧面组合抽运DPL中的热效用等效薄透镜近似,给出了等效热透镜焦距的计算方法,分析了组合抽运引起的热透镜效应对基横模振荡光的光斑尺寸和衍射损耗的影响。在总抽运功率一定的情况下,端面抽运功率占有率的变化对热透镜焦距有一定的影响,占有率越大,热透镜焦距越长。提高端面抽运功率占有率,可在一定程度上减小热透镜效应对振荡光束尺寸和衍射损耗的影响。     

31.5W太阳光抽运Nd∶YAG固体激光器

设计了一种阈值较低的太阳光直接抽运的Nd∶YAG固体激光器,采用有效面积为1.03m2、焦距为1.2 m的菲涅耳透镜为第1级太阳光会聚装置,分腔水冷型镀金锥形腔为第2级太阳光会聚装置。在液体导光透镜和镀金锥形腔的共同作用下,通过端面、侧面同时抽运直径为5 mm、长度为75 mm的Nd∶YAG螺纹晶体棒,获得了连续稳定的1064nm激光输出。利用光学设计软件ZEMAX和激光谐振腔仿真软件LASCAD建立理论模型,通过数值模拟验证实验结果并优化系统设计。该太阳光抽运Nd∶YAG固体激光器的激光输出功率最高为31.5 W,收集效率为30.58 W/m2,激光器阈值功率为102 W,斜率效率为4.25%,太阳光到激光的能量转换效率为3.2%。     

平顶光端面抽运DPL中热效应对输出功率的影响

用平顶光束描述由多根光纤紧密排列耦合并经透镜整形后的抽运光分布，给出了平顶光束的光强分布，对晶体热效应引起的热致衍射损耗随抽运功率和抽运光束半径的变化规律进行了数值计算，讨论了晶体热效应引起的热致衍射损耗对基横模高斯光束输出功率的影响，并实验验证了基横模高斯光束输出功率随抽运功率的变化规律．结果表明：热致衍射损耗使基横模高斯光束输出功率明显降低．随着抽运光束半径的增大，热致衍射损耗减小，对基横模高斯光束输出功率的影响就减小；抽运功率越大，热致衍射损耗越大，对基横模高斯光束输出功率的影响就越大．     

数值模拟抽运分布对端泵激光器晶体热透镜球差的影响

为了研究端面抽运情况下,激光晶体在不同分布的抽运光抽运时热透镜球差的变化,通过对稳态热传导方程和Zernike多项式的求解,建立了热透镜球差与抽运光强度分布的模型,对模型进行了理论分析和仿真研究,并对仿真结果做了进一步理论和仿真分析.结果表明:在相同的抽运功率下,二阶超高斯分布抽运光抽运时球差最大,且随着抽运分布系数k的增大(除高斯分布外)球差逐渐减小;随着抽运功率的增加,抽运分布系数k对球差的影响逐渐加重,且不同分布系数k所产生的球差差距逐渐增大;并对二阶超高斯分布抽运光抽运得到最强激光功率的照射范围进行了理论分析和仿真分析,得知在相同抽运功率下,二阶超高斯分布抽运光得到最强激光功率的范围最宽为0.30—0.63倍高斯半径.     

线阵激光二极管侧面抽运Nd∶YAG激光器特性研究

依据四能级系统速率方程 ,推导出了多横模振荡固体激光器输出与输入参量的关系。对二极管抽运固体激光器中线阵激光二极管三向对称侧面抽运结构 ,计算了抽运光强分布 ,并就激光器的阈值抽运功率、近阈值条件下的斜率效率、输出功率和光束质量等与抽运参量的关系 ,进行了数值计算。由计算结果看出 ,线阵激光二极管侧面抽运Nd∶YAG激光器中晶体半径和抽运光束腰半径是影响输出激光功率和光束质量的主要因素 ,并通过在谐振腔中加小孔选模 ,使光束质量得到明显改善。选择了一组三向侧面抽运结构参量进行了实验验证 ,实验结果与理论计算一致。     

线阵激光二极管侧面抽运Nd:YAG激光器特性研究

依据四能级系统速率方程,推导出了多横模振荡固体激光器输出与输入参量的关系。对二极管抽运固体激光器中线阵激光二极管三向对称侧面抽运结构,计算了抽运光强分布,并就激光器的阈值抽运功率、近阈值条件下的斜率效率、输出功率和光束质量等与抽运参量的关系,进行了数值计算。由计算结果看出,线阵激光二极管侧面抽运Nd：YAG激光器中晶体半径和抽运光束腰半径是影响输出激光功率和光束质量的主要因素,并通过在谐振腔中加小孔选模,使光束质量得到明显改善。选择了一组三向侧面抽运结构参量进行了实验验证,实验结果与理论计算一致。     

高效率LD端面抽运准连续355nm激光器

报道了一台激光二极管(LD)端面抽运Nd∶YVO4晶体腔内倍频和腔外和频相结合的声光调Q准连续355 nm紫外激光器。采用LD端面抽运双侧翼键合YVO4基质的Nd∶YVO4晶体,在腔内置入Ⅰ类相位匹配的LiB3O5(LBO)晶体进行倍频实现1 064 nm和532 nm双波长准连续激光输出,通过消色差透镜将双波长激光聚焦耦合到Ⅱ类相位匹配的LBO晶体中进行和频,并采用双向和频光路,获得了高效率、高光束质量、高重复频率的准连续355 nm紫外激光输出。在抽运功率为28.6 W、重复频率为20 kHz时,355 nm激光最大输出功率4.2 W,脉宽为20.6 ns,光-光转换效率为14.7%,激光器光束质量因子Mx2和My2分别为1.29和1.23。     

脉冲激光二极管侧面抽运Nd∶YAG激光器晶体时变热效应

采用数值计算的方法,对脉冲激光二极管三向侧面抽运固体激光器中,激光晶体的温度场时变分布进行了计算. 分析了三向侧面抽运情况下晶体内光强分布,在此基础上,采用有限元法,以脉冲激光二极管侧面抽运Nd∶YAG激光器为例,对单脉冲过程中晶体温度分布及其影响因素进行分析. 结果表明,晶体升温过程受到抽运条件以及散热条件的影响,但是主要受到抽运条件即抽运光强度和光束半径的影响,降温过程受到晶体热物性参数和晶体半径以及散热条件的影响. 当晶体温度达到周期性分布后,由于晶体径向温度梯度的周期性变化,引起通过晶体的平面光波的中心和边缘光线相对光程差也随时间作周期性变化. 关键词： 激光二极管侧面抽运固体激光器 热效应 有限元法 时变过程     

脉冲激光二极管侧面抽运Nd:YAG激光器晶体时变热效应

采用数值计算的方法,对脉冲激光二极管三向侧面抽运固体激光器中,激光晶体的温度场时变分布进行了计算. 分析了三向侧面抽运情况下晶体内光强分布,在此基础上,采用有限元法,以脉冲激光二极管侧面抽运Nd:YAG激光器为例,对单脉冲过程中晶体温度分布及其影响因素进行分析. 结果表明,晶体升温过程受到抽运条件以及散热条件的影响,但是主要受到抽运条件即抽运光强度和光束半径的影响,降温过程受到晶体热物性参数和晶体半径以及散热条件的影响. 当晶体温度达到周期性分布后,由于晶体径向温度梯度的周期性变化,引起通过晶体的平面光波的中心和边缘光线相对光程差也随时间作周期性变化.     

太阳光泵浦激光器侧面泵浦效率的提高

太阳光泵浦激光器直接利用太阳光作为泵浦源,实现了太阳光能量到激光能量的直接转化。设计了分腔水冷型金属锥形泵浦腔,以直径8mm,长115mm的Nd:YAG晶体棒作为激光工作物质,用有效面积1.03m2菲涅尔透镜会聚太阳光,实验获得了23.7 W的稳定激光输出,斜效率为7.87%。通过对比实验,改进后的分腔水冷型太阳光泵浦激光器较原有锥形腔激光器有55.92%的激光输出功率提升。分别从侧面泵浦光在冷却水中的吸收损耗以及其耦合效率等方面对新型腔体结构进行了分析,证实了分腔水冷型腔体结构对侧面泵浦效率的提高,并提出了陶瓷漫反射材质的分腔水冷型激光腔的设计。     

Improvement in solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser beam brightness

Solar-pumped solid-state lasers are promising for renewable extreme-temperature material processing. Here we report a large improvement in solar laser beam brightness by pumping a thin Nd:YAG single crystal rod. A fused silica light guide of 14 mm×22 mm rectangular cross-section is used to both transmit and homogenize the concentrated solar radiation from the focal zone of a 2.88 m² parabolic mirror to the entrance aperture of a modified 2D-CPC flooded pump cavity, within which a 4 mm diameter rod is efficiently pumped. 2.2% slope efficiency is reached. Laser beam brightness figure of merit B is three times higher than that of the most recent solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser by a Fresnel lens. The introduction of the rectangular cross-section light guide has also ensured a much more stable laser emission than previous pumping schemes.     

Solar pumped Nd:YAG laser

We report the high efficiency of solar pumped laser. The sunlight is concentrated by the concentrator system, which is composed by the Fresnel lens and the cone-channel condenser. The power density of sunlight concentrated by the concentrator system surpasses the lasing threshold for pumping laser. In the experiment, the sunlight concentrated is coupled into the conical chamber pumping Nd:YAG laser media. Laser output of 3.5 W has been achieved; the collect efficiency is 3.5 W/m². The conversion efficiency is 1.0% from solar power into laser, and the slope efficiency is achieved 1.86%.     

Comparison of different side-pumping configurations for high power laser diode pumped solid-state laser

Ray-tracing method is used to simulate the distribution of absorption in crystal rod for different side-pumping configuration. The distribution of pumping power and absorption efficiency is compared, and the numerical results are presented. The results show that the more uniform pumping and the higher absorption coefficient are obtained with a diffuse cavity. And the method of the slow axis of laser diode stack perpendicular to the axis of lasing gives the higher central pumping density.     

120 watt continuous wave solar-pumped laser with a liquid light-guide lens and an Nd:YAG rod

We propose a simple and efficient pumping approach for a high-power solar-pumped laser by using a liquid light-guide lens (LLGL) and a hybrid pumping cavity. A 2×2 m Fresnel lens is used as a primary concentrator to collect natural sunlight; 120 W cw laser power and a 4.3% total slope efficiency are achieved with a 6-mm diameter Nd:YAG rod within a 14-mm diameter LLGL. The corresponded collection efficiency is 30.0 W/m(2), which is 1.5 times larger than the previous record. This result is unexpectedly better than that of Cr:Nd:YAG ceramics. It is because the scattering coefficient of Cr:Nd:YAG ceramics is 0.004cm(1), which is 2 times larger than that of the Nd:YAG crystal, although both have similar saturation gains.     

高倍聚光光伏模组中三结太阳电池沿光轴方向光电性能与优化

目前,在高倍聚光光伏模组设计中,由于对菲涅耳透镜聚光后各波段的光强分布及其非均匀特性缺乏研究和认识,通常认为在菲涅耳透镜的聚光焦平面处多结太阳电池输出功率最大.本文通过光线跟踪模拟的方法,计算并分析菲涅耳透镜聚光下不同波段的光照能量分布和非均匀特性.同时,结合三结太阳电池电路网络模型,研究在高倍聚光光伏模组中,沿光轴方向不同位置处三结太阳电池的发电性能.结果表明:模组输出功率最高位置在焦平面沿光轴方向上下两侧的位置,优化后模组输出功率比常规设计提高20%以上.该模拟结果得到了实验结果的验证.     

Laser performance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">g</Emphasis></Subscript>-cut flash-lamp pumped Nd:KGW at high repetition rates

A comparative study of the flash-lamp pumped laser performance of standard b-grown Nd:KGW and Nd:KGW grown for propagation along the optical axis N_g is presented. The results show that, in comparison with b-grown crystal, the N_g-grown Nd:KGW is very promising for use at high repetition flash-lamp pumping rates. With the same laser cavity configuration, the N_g-grown Nd:KGW can operate at an average flash-lamp input power of at least 1.4 kW, while the b-cut one ceases lasing at average flash-lamp input power of ∼0.5 kW. The reason for this is that the thermal lens induced in the N_g-oriented Nd:KGW rod under pump radiation is relatively weak, nearly spherical and positive, whereas the b-grown Nd:KGW rod acts as a quite weak positive lens for radiation with radial polarization, and as a much stronger negative lens for tangentially polarized radiation. PACS 42.60.Jf; 42.70.Hj     

Design of optical coupling systems between two-dimensional quasi-stadium laser diodes and single-mode optical fibers

Optical coupling systems between a two-dimensional quasi-stadium laser diode and single-mode optical fibers using gradient-index rod lenses are designed for both stable and unstable laser resonators for the first time. A novel numerical approach using a combination of the extended Fox-Li calculation method and Gaussian beam transformations is proposed. In the case of a stable laser resonator, two kinds of beam propagation modes appear, namely the axis mode, in which an optical beam propagates along the cavity axis, and the ring mode, in which optical beams propagate along the diamond-shaped trajectory. The coupling efficiencies are found to be 54% for the axis mode and 52% for the ring mode. In contrast, an unstable laser resonator exhibits complicated modes, in which several highly directional beams are emitted from the end mirrors. The total coupling efficiency for these output beams is calculated to be 9.6%. The 3-dB tolerances for the lens pitch and alignment angles of the gradient-index rod lenses are also discussed.     

Side-pumped continuous-wave Cr:Nd:YAG ceramic solar laser

To clarify the advantages of Cr:Nd:YAG ceramics rods in solar-pumped lasers, a fused silica light guide with rectangular cross-section is coupled to a compound V-shaped cavity within which a 7 mm diameter 0.1 at.% Cr:1.0 at.% Nd:YAG ceramic rod is uniformly pumped. The highly concentrated solar radiation at the focal spot of a 2 m diameter stationary parabolic mirror is transformed into a uniform pump radiation by the light guide. Efficient pump light absorption is achieved by pumping uniformly the ceramic rod within the V-shaped cavity. Optimum pumping parameters and solar laser output powers are found through ZEMAX^© non-sequential ray-tracing and LASCAD^© laser cavity analysis codes. 33.6 W continuous-wave laser power is measured, corresponding to 1.32 times enhancement over our previous results with a 4 mm diameter Nd:YAG single-crystal rod. High slope efficiency of 2.6 % is also registered. The solar laser output performances of both the ceramic and the single-crystal rods are finally compared, revealing the relative advantage of the Cr:Nd:YAG rod in conversion efficiency. Low scattering coefficient of 0.0018 cm^?1 is deduced for the ceramic rod. Heat load is considered as a key factor affecting the ceramic laser output performance.