热效应对激光器光束质量的自适应调整技术

在固体激光器中,热效应会同时影响抽运光和振荡光的空间分布。研究表明,对于端面抽运固体激光器而言,通常存在一个特定的抽运功率区间,使抽运光与基模振荡光在热效应的作用下,在增益介质内部高度重合,激光器的抽运光效率和光束质量得到大幅度提升。利用这一特点,设计了一种激光器,在抽运功率为105~115 W时,实现了抽运光与基模振荡光空间分布的高度重合,激光器光束质量因子小于2.3。在此区间外,激光器光束质量因子迅速增加到3以上。提出了一种计算上述抽运功率区间的优化算法,在端面抽运固体激光器中,可以快速寻找到理想的抽运功率区间,并与上述实验进行对比,结果表明使用该方法寻找到的抽运功率区间与实验所得到的区间高度吻合,相对误差低于5%,可靠性高。     

抽运光对激光束空间分布影响程度的估算方法研究

为便于评价两种光场空间分布之间的偏离程度，引入一个数学参数δ进行研究。将该参数应用到谐振腔内分析了抽运光空间分布对基模振荡光光束质量的影响。这种影响主要表现为：若抽运光在激光介质中引起非均匀的增益分布，基模振荡光将偏离高斯分布。利用δ参数对这种影响的程度进行了定量估算。定量研究表明：δ参数可以直观地反映泵浦光分布对激光器光束质量的影响程度，而且在激光器的设计中δ参数的大小可衡量泵浦光分布的优劣。对于端面泵浦二极管泵浦固体激光器（DPL），稳恒运转下最理想的抽运光分布形式是高斯型抽运光，其半径等于谐振腔的基模高斯振荡光半径。     

抽运光分布对二极管抽运激光器振荡光光束质量的影响

研究了二极管抽运激光器（DPL）中抽运光的空间分布对振荡光光束质量的影响.通过对端面 抽运情形下光场运动方程的研究，发现不均匀的空间增益分布会影响激光振荡的模式，并且 使得基模振荡光偏离高斯分布.引入一个称之为抽运光影响因子参数，来判断这种影响的程 度.研究表明，这个参数计算方便而且实用.在对基模调Q脉冲激光的研究中发现，由于抽运 光的影响，脉冲前沿的场分布将由远离高斯分布向接近高斯分布变化，称之为脉冲前沿的场 倏变现象. 关键词： 激光二极管 二极管抽运激光器 光束质量     

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。     

LD泵浦固体激光器基模振荡光的场分布噪音

通过调整泵浦光直径,使得LD端面泵浦固体激光器的振荡光工作于基模.在排除高阶横模的条件下,测量了由于热透镜的不稳定引起的光场场分布的噪音.实验发现,基模振荡光的高斯半径、光束指向角都在波动,而且光斑存在畸变波动.对一个未采取抑制措施的2W连续LD端面泵浦Nd:YAG固体激光器进行了测量.结果表明,在总功率不变的情况下,激光束峰值点附近的光强波动达到6.3%;激光的高斯半径波动达到5.8%;激光的指向角波动达到0.3mrad.     

端面抽运固体激光器热透镜效应的实验研究

提出一种易于实现、对激光器本身没有干扰、高空间精度、可实时测量介质热透镜的干涉测量方法. 并利用此方法全面研究了端面抽运Nd:YVO4激光器的热透镜效应，为认识激光介质的热效应和设计此类激光器提供了参考.  关键词： 热透镜 端面抽运 固体激光器     

锯齿形板条抽运结构的热效应数值比较

激光二极管抽运的全固态激光器中,除了激光介质的温度分布和热透镜效应以外,抽运、冷却结构对获得高光束质量、高功率激光输出至关重要。基于热传导方程,在相同的抽运功率和传导冷却边界条件下,对单侧面抽运锯齿形(zigzag)板条、单侧面键合锯齿形板条、部分抽运板条三种不同抽运结构的温度分布、热致应力、温度导致的折射率变化进行了详细的分析,并通过光线追迹方法,比较了光束在锯齿形面内和垂直于锯齿形面内的光程差,由光程差曲线分析了激光束的热透镜效应。对三种抽运结构的端面温度、端面变形和端面变形导致的光程差也进行了对比分析。结果表明,三种抽运结构在锯齿形面内的光束均表现为发散特性,在垂直于锯齿形面内的光束表现为热聚焦效应,温度导致的热聚焦特性相差不是很大。而在消除端面效应方面,键合激光板条具有明显优势。最后,提出了热透镜效应的补偿方法。     

利用输出功率测量激光二极管端面抽运的固体激光器热透镜焦距

运用谐振腔变换圆理论,详细分析了激光二极管抽运的Nd:YVO4平行平面腔固体激光器振荡光在晶体内的基模光斑半径随抽运功率变化的U形曲线.提出在适当腔长情况下激光器的输出功率随抽运功率变化曲线上将出现凹陷或尖峰现象,利用曲线上的凹陷和尖峰可以测量激光晶体的热透镜焦距.同时在理论分析的基础上进行了实验,实验结果与理论分析相符合 关键词： Nd:YVO4 热透镜焦距 固体激光器 谐振腔变换圆     

激光二极管抽运固体激光器场分布的热不稳定性研究

通过建立激光介质非热平衡状态的振荡散热模型，分析了激光二极管抽运固体激光器中，热透镜的不稳定性.研究表明，热透镜的这种热不稳定性是造成激光场不稳定的重要因素.会造成高斯半径的不稳定波动，会使激光光束的指向角波动，会造成激光光斑的非对称畸变，这种畸变也处于波动之中.通过对端面抽运条件下，热耗为1W的Nd:YAG激光介质的理论和实验研究，确定了这种原因下光场不稳定度的数量级. 关键词： 激光二极管 固体激光器 热透镜     

离轴抽运对Nd:YAG激光器振荡模式影响的研究

以激光二极管端面抽运固体激光器为研究对象,通过实验研究了离轴抽运条件下,离轴量的大小对Nd:YAG激光器的振荡光阈值、振荡模式、光束质量以及激光器的斜效率的影响,分析了在同一抽运位置改变LD电流时输出光位置及模式的变化情况.实验结果表明,当抽运光离轴量增大时,斜效率增大,但输出光依次出现从低阶模到高阶模的变化,激光器的振荡阈值升高,光束质量变差;在同一抽运位置增大LD电流时,输出光从高阶模向低阶模转化,光斑中心向此时的抽运中心轴靠拢.     

Lasers for materials processing: specifications and trends

An overview is given of the types of lasers dominating the field of laser materials processing. The most prominent lasers in this field are the CO₂ and the Nd: YAG laser. The domain of CO₂ lasers is applications which demand high laser powers (up to 30 kW are available at present), whereas the domain of Nd:YAG lasers is micro-machining applications. In the kilowatt range of laser output power, the two types of lasers are in competition. New diffusion-cooled CO₂ laser systems are capable of output laser powers of several kilowatts, with good beam qualities, while still being quite compact. The output power and beam quality of Nd:YAG lasers has been improved in recent years, so that Nd:YAG lasers are now an alternative to CO₂ lasers even in the kilowatt range. This is especially true for applications that demand optical fibre transmission of the laser beam, which is possible with Nd:YAG laser light but not with the longerwavelength light emitted by CO₂ lasers. The main problem in solid-state lasers such as Nd:YAG is the thermal lensing effect and damage due to thermal stresses. In order to reduce thermal loading, cooling has to be enhanced. Several alternative geometries have been proposed to reduce thermal loading and, by this, thermal lensing effects. There are now slab and tube geometries which allow much higher output powers than the conventionally used laser rods. A very new scheme proposes a thin slab whose cooled side is also used as one of the laser mirrors, so that thermal gradients occur mainly in the direction of the beam propagation and not perpendicular to it, as is the case in the other geometries. As well as CO₂ and Nd:YAG lasers, semiconductor laser diodes are very promising for direct use of the emitted light or as pump sources for Nd:YAG and other solid-state lasers. When packaging together thousands of single laser diodes, output powers of several kilowatts can be realized. Major problems are collimation of the highly divergent laser beams and cooling of the laser diode bars.     

LD端面泵浦Cr~4∶YAG被动调Q激光器输出特性研究

对激光二极管端面泵浦Cr4+∶YAG被动调Q Nd∶YAG激光器输出特性进行了实验研究.实验研究发现,激光器输出功率及脉冲重复频率随谐振腔长度增大而增大.为解释这一实验现象,测量了泵浦光斑在激光晶体内尺寸,同时计算了激光晶体及Cr4+∶YAG晶体内的基模激光光斑半径随谐振腔长度变化.分析结果表明:激光晶体内泵浦光斑尺寸远小于激光晶体内基模光斑半径,腔模间交叠效率较低;当腔长增加时,激光晶体内的基模激光光斑减小,腔模间交叠效率增加,从而导致输出功率及脉冲重复频率随腔长增加而增加;另外,Cr4+∶YAG晶体内光斑半径也随谐振腔长度减小,引起Cr4+∶YAG晶体漂白时间缩短,导致脉冲重复频率随腔长增加而增加.     

LD端面泵浦Cr4:YAG被动调Q激光器输出特性研究

对激光二极管端面泵浦Cr⁴⁺:YAG被动调QNd:YAG激光器输出特性进行了实验研究.实验研究发现,激光器输出功率及脉冲重复频率随谐振腔长度增大而增大.为解释这一实验现象,测量了泵浦光斑在激光晶体内尺寸,同时计算了激光晶体及Cr⁴⁺:YAG晶体内的基模激光光斑半径随谐振腔长度变化.分析结果表明:激光晶体内泵浦光斑尺寸远小于激光晶体内基模光斑半径,腔模间交叠效率较低;当腔长增加时,激光晶体内的基模激光光斑减小,腔模间交叠效率增加,从而导致输出功率及脉冲重复频率随腔长增加而增加;另外,Cr⁴⁺:YAG晶体内光斑半径也随谐振腔长度减小,引起Cr⁴⁺:YAG晶体漂白时间缩短,导致脉冲重复频率随腔长增加而增加.     

A 4.8-W M^2 = 4.6 Continuous-Wave Intracavity Sum-Frequency Diode-Pumped Solid-State Yellow Laser

A yellow continuous wave with beam quality M^2= 4.6 and output power of 4.8 W at 589nm is generated by intracavity sum-frequency mixing of 1064 nm and 1319 nm radiations of a Nd：YAG laser. To achieve high beam quality at high power, thermally near-unstable flat-flat resonators with two-rod birefringence compensation are designed to obtain the large fundamental mode size inside the Nd：YAG rods and the same beam width inside the KTP crystal. The optimal intracavity power ratio of both 1064nm and 1319nm beams is also considered. The output power fluctuation of the yellow laser remains less than 5% in four hours.     

Influences of pump beam distribution on thermal lensing spherical aberration in an LD end-pumped Nd:YAG laser

A numerical investigation is made on the thermal lensing and spherical aberration effect in an LD end-pumped Nd:YAG laser. Based on the finite element method (FEM), the laser rod temperature distribution is calculated and the focal length of the thermal lens is deduced, the influences of pump beam on the thermal lensing spherical aberration are mainly studied. The results show the thermal lens which focal length varied with the radial coordinate r is not an ideal lens. Given the heat dissipation boundary conditions, the radial dependent focal length will be shortened when the pump power raised or the waist radius of the pump beam reduced, meanwhile the radial differences of the focal length will decrease when the pump power increased. For a Super-Gaussian profile pump beam, the higher the exponent number, the more similar to flat top the pump beam is, and the less the radial differences of the focal length are.     

A Nd: YAG laser with a flat-top beam profile and constant divergence

An active resonator designed especially for Nd: YAG lasers is proposed. The expected performance of this resonator is the generation of a laser beam with a flat-topped distribution and a divergence invariant under the thermal lensing effect, such that it could be applied to surface treatment without special optical or mechanical elements. The beam quality and efficiency of such a resonator are presented and discussed in comparison with a parallel-plane resonator as adopted by most industrial Nd: YAG lasers.     

Generation of radially polarized beams in a Nd:YAG laser with self-adaptive overcompensation of the thermal lens

Thermal effects such as lensing and birefringence negatively affect the beam quality and limit the power range of solid-state lasers. Self-adaptive overcompensation of the thermal lens is an answer to this problem. It provides a laser system with good beam quality and large stability range. Because the focal length of the thermally induced lens is different for the radial and the tangential polarization, overcompensation can be used to discriminate these two polarizations. Exploiting this method, we demonstrate the generation of radially polarized beams in a self-adaptively overcompensated high-power Nd:YAG laser with an output power of 155 W and an M2 of less than 10.     

The dynamic stability resonant cavity design of two rod Nd:YAG laser

The stability of the higher output power with high-quality beams is very important parameter in material processing. This paper presents using the S parameter and Gauss beam parameters matching to design efficient resonant cavity of two-rod Nd:YAG. The fundamental mode beam radius in rod, fundamental mode beam radius on the mirror, beam quality factor, and the value of the degree of the symmetry of the TEM00 mode volume as a function of the between neighbor rods distance, laser rod end face to mirror distance, and input power are simulated. The design method of resonant cavity is illustrated and compared with previously published experimental measurements for different pump power and the length of the cavity parameters and a good agreement has been found.     

Efficient and high-power intracavity frequency doubled diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG/KTP continuous wave (CW) green laser

Highly efficient continuous wave (CW) green beam generation by intracavity frequency doubling of a diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser using a single pump head based on a copper-coated flow tube in a V-shaped cavity geometry has been demonstrated. A maximum 30.5 W of CW green power was obtained at a total diode pumping power of 260 W corresponding to 11.7% conversion efficiency of diode pump power to CW green power and 4.7% conversion efficiency of electrical power to CW green power. The performance of the laser by considering the pump power induced thermal lensing effect and the M²-parameter at the fundamental wavelength has been analyzed.     

Thermal Lensing, Laser Performance at 1.06 μm and 0.53 μm of a NYAB Laser End-pumped by a Diode-laser-array

The thermal lensing, output characteristics of an end-pumped NYAB laser with high pump power levels and operated at the fundamental wavelength, and the manner of self-frequency-doubling, have been investigated. The thermal lensing in the NYAB crystal was found to be significantly stronger than that in Nd:YVO4 crystal. A maximum output of 3.2 W at 1.06 μm was achieved with an optical conversion efficiency of 29.1％ and an average slope efficiency of 37.5％. These results were found to be slightly inferior to those of Nd:YVO4 crystal. When operated in the fashion of selffrequency-doubling, 23 mW green output was obtained at the incident pump power of 5 W, such inefficient operation was attributed to the large mode size in the NYAB crystal.