Design considerations and scaling laws for high power convective cooled CW CO2 lasers

Various criteria for designing high power convective cooled CO₂ lasers have been discussed. Considering the saturation intensity, optical damage threshold of the optical resonator components and the small-signal gain, the scaling laws for designing high power CW CO₂ lasers have been established. In transverse flow CO₂ lasers having discharge of square cross-section, the discharge lengthL and its widthW for a specific laser powerP (Watt) and gas flow velocityV (cm/s) can be given byL = 1.4 x 10⁴ p ^1/2 V ^-1 cms andW = 0.04P ^1/2 cms. The optimum transmitivity of the output coupler is found to be almost constant (about 60%), independent of the small signal gain and laser power. In fast axial flow CO₂ lasers the gas flow should be divided into several discharge tubes to maintain the flow velocity within sonic limit. The discharge length in this type of laser does not depend explicitly on the laser power, instead it depends on the input power density in the discharge and the gas flow velocity. Various considerations for ensuring better laser beam quality are also discussed.     

氧碘化学激光中的增益光导效应

 发现和分析了氧碘化学激光中的增益光导效应。碘注入的不均匀等导致增益在该方向的不均匀。采用预混模型和Fabry Perot腔模型，推导了碘不均匀分布情况下的单重态氧的产额和激光束横向分布的解析表达式。计算结果表明，由于增益光导效应，引起激光横向分布的变化，可导致光束在碘注入方向的倾斜，以及输出功率的下降。     

Study on the possibilities of controlling the laser output beam properties by an intracavity deformable mirror

The possibilities of controlling the laser beam properties by a deformable mirror introduced into the laser optical cavity were studied theoretically and experimentally. The experiments were performed under conditions of an industrial high power transverse flow cw CO₂ laser operating with a stable resonator of a folded configuration. A deformable bimorph mirror of a surface profile controlled by the voltage applied to the mirror electrodes is implemented to the laser system as a back cavity mirror or as a one of the inner folding mirrors. The near-and far-field characteristics of the laser beam versus the resonator configuration controlled by the changes of the focal length of the deformable mirror are discussed in the paper. The analysis reveals that the resonator with an inner deformable mirror is much more sensitive to the mirror curvature variations than the resonator in which the deformable mirror is used as a back cavity mirror. The presented results show that dynamic and controllable changes in the resonator properties result in the controlled modification and optimisation of the laser output power and spatial parameters of the laser radiation.     

光束在尾流气泡中传输的复散射效应

为了了解光束在尾流气泡中的传输特性,为前向光尾流的探测提供理论依据,研究了光束在尾流中传输时传播方向上和横截面方向上的辐射强度分布特性.基于辐射传输方程的小角度近似解,得到了探测截面上的约化强度和漫射强度的表达式,其中漫射强度表征了复散射的强弱|针对典型的尾流气泡分布,通过数值计算分析了光束传输方向上的约化强度和漫射强度与接收视场角、光学厚度和光束大小的关系,也计算分析了光束横截面方向上的辐射强度随光束大小和横向距离的变化关系.结果表明,光束在尾流气泡中传输时复散射效应明显,且复散射的强弱与接收视场角、光束直径、光学厚度和横向距离密切相关.     

UR90环形非稳腔输出模式特性的数值分析

将ＵＲ９０环形非稳腔引入氧碘化学激光器，对其输出模式进行了数值模拟计算，模拟包括了化学动力学，介质横向流动和物理光学等因素，得到与放大率Ｍ和光轴离截取镜距离ａ等参数相关的近场光强，位相及远场光强分布曲线。     

Diode-pumped efficient slab laser with two Nd:YLF crystals and second-harmonic generation by slab LBO

We demonstrate a diode-pumped electro-optical Q-switched slab laser with a high optical efficiency, high pulse energy, and short pulse width with two Nd:YLF crystals inside one resonator. The single compact slab resonator can generate a 1D top-hat beam at both the far field and the near field. With a slab-geometry-design lithium triborate (LBO) crystal, efficient critical phase-matching second-harmonic generation for a 1D top-hat beam with multiple transverse modes is achieved.     

Method for creating hollow light beams with local intensity minima and possibilities for their application

We propose and experimentally realize methods for forming light beams with local spatial intensity minima of different types (hollow light beams), based on application of specially shaped linear optics phase elements. The fields with local intensity minima, obtained as a result of phase conversion, are comparable with respect to transverse dimensions, power, and intensity gradient to the initial gaussian beam focused by means of a spherical lens. The optical layouts were assembled using photostable optical elements and therefore make it possible to create high-power laser fields suitable not only for manipulation of microparticles but also for laser machining of materials, in particular laser welding of metals. Using a phase element with planar symmetry, we can select the optimal laser beam profile that will ensure no burning on the line of contact between the ends of the parts to be welded for high penetration and will make it possible to achieve the maximum possible strength of the weld joint for a specified laser radiation power.     

考虑钕玻璃放大器增益特性的光谱色散匀滑系统性能研究

采用数值方法研究了钕玻璃放大器的增益特性对高功率激光系统中光谱色散匀滑单元性能的影响.分析结果表明,入射光中心波长与放大器增益曲线中心波长不一致时,焦斑强度分布会受到一定的影响,且该影响随放大倍数增大趋于明显,而两个波长一致时,强度分布变化较小.靶面焦斑整体的辐照均匀性则主要取决于经过相位调制后的激光束的带宽,放大器的增益特性对其空间功率谱及均匀性无明显的影响.所得结论为光谱色散匀滑单元在激光系统中的实际应用提供了重要的理论参考.     

Astigmatic telescopic transformation of a high-order optical vortex

Properties of an optical vortex light beam formed after the astigmatic telescopic transformation of a circular Laguerre-Gaussian mode are considered both theoretically and experimentally. The beam evolution is found to be in conformity with the general notions on the high-order optical vortex symmetry breakdown. Upon propagation, the asymmetric beam shows a sort of rotation of its transverse profile in accord with the energy circulation in the original circular mode; this process is described on the base of the beam intensity moments and the vortex and asymmetry components of its orbital angular momentum. An l-charged optical vortex converts into |l| secondary first-order vortices positioned on a straight line crossing the beam axis. Orientation of this straight line in the beam cross section and spatial separation of the secondary vortex cores depend on the propagation distance. Morphology (orientation and anisotropy) of all the secondary vortices is the same and depends on the propagation distance; the anisotropy can be characterized by the vortex component of the beam angular momentum. At certain distance, relative separation of secondary vortices with respect to the beam transverse size reaches its maximum that corresponds to the minimum anisotropy of the vortices. The results can be useful in the context of current research of the optical vortex arrays.     

Optical bistability by two laser beams in photorefractive crystals

For a nonlinear medium, a given incident laser beam may produce different transmitted light waves. This phenomenon (the so-called optical bistability) corresponds to multiple solutions of the boundary value problems of the nonlinear Helmholtz equation. Optical bistability can be useful in the design of optical switches. Devices that display this behavior could potentially play a major role in the development of optical communication systems and computing. In this article we present experimental results concerning the optical bistability in photorefractive BaTiO₃:Fe crystal. Two laser beams were used to interact with the photorefractive crystal which resulted in the bistability of the intensity of transmitted wave. This was achieved without the application of any optical resonator. High contrast optical bistability is found experimentally in the pump-ratio dependence of the output intensity.     

大长宽比矩形有源非稳腔模式的数值模拟

 利用快速傅里叶变换算法和薄层增益近似方法,在Matlab计算平台上,对大长宽比正支共焦有源谐振腔进行了数值模拟。得到了长宽比为3.6∶1的大功率化学激光器输出的近场模式强度和相位分布,以及理想聚焦下的远场光斑的强度分布。给出了由非均匀增益引起的强度分布不均对远场光斑的影响。得到的近场图像结果和实验结果基本一致,表明本方法可以对大长宽比矩形腔的输出模式进行仿真,从而为激光器的光束质量改善提供计算参考。     

高功率毫米波圆波导半径微扰模式变换器的优化设计

从半径渐变波导的耦合波方程出发,利用龙格-库塔法进行优化数值迭代,得到在3 mm波段,TE03-TE02, TE02-TE01高效率模式变换器的设计参数。通过优化程序,设计出了6周期TE03-TE02和3周期TE02-TE01模式变换器优化尺寸。利用CST微波工作室电磁仿真软件对结构尺寸进行优化仿真,仿真结果与优化程序计算结果基本一致。以此数据设计中心频率94 GHz的TE03-TE02,TE02-TE01模式变换器功率转换效率可以达到98.5%以上,90%功率转换的绝对带宽分别达到3.5和7.0 GHz以上,优于设计要求。     

High-power dual-rod Yb:YAG laser

We describe a diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser that produces 1080 W of power cw with 27.5% optical optical efficiency and 532 W Q-switched with M(2)=2.2 and 17% optical-optical efficiency. The laser uses two composite Yb:YAG rods separated by a 90 degrees quartz rotator for bifocusing compensation. A microlensed diode array end pumps each rod, using a hollow lens duct for pump delivery. By changing resonator parameters we can adjust the fundamental mode size and the output beam quality. Using a flattened Gaussian intensity profile to calculate the mode-fill efficiency and clipping losses, we compare experimental data with modeled output power versus beam quality.     

封离式He-N$lt;sub$gt;2$lt;/sub$gt;-CO$lt;sub$gt;2$lt;/sub$gt;激光器横模特性的测量与分析

利用激光光束分析仪,实时在线测量了一根He-N₂-CO₂封离式激光管的横模分布特性,得到了激光模式随放电电流的变化关系.实验表明该激光器在最佳工作电流时,容易形成低阶模运转,但很难获得基模运转,通过改善对称性以及加快冷却水流速可以获得基模运转.通过激光动力学过程分析了模式变化的形成原因,为大功率激光器模式控制与改善提供了一定的理论和实验借鉴. 关键词： 2激光')" href="#">CO₂激光 横模 激光模式分析 光束质量     

All-fibre optical system for exciting and detecting the vibration of silicon microresonator sensors

An all-fibre optical system for optical interrogation and detection of the vibrations of a silicon microresonator is reported. Metal-coated silicon microresonators are excited by intensity modulated laser light delivered through an optical fibre, while the vibration of the resonators is detected by an optical fibre interferometer. Measurements have shown that an average optical power of 10 μW is sufficient to maintain the flexural vibration of the resonator. When the resonator is used as a pressure sensor, its resonant frequency changes from 62 kHz to 130 kHz as the pressure varies from -0°6 bar to 1 bar (gauge). A silicon resonator with 700 nm aluminium coating functions as a temperature sensor, showing a frequency shift from 262 kHz to 251 kHz when the temperature changes from 25 °C to 80 °C.     

High-power end-pumped CW Nd:GdVO4 laser formed with a flat–flat cavity

Formed with a flat–flat resonator, a diode-laser-array end-pumped CW Nd:GdVO₄ laser at 1.06 μm, capable of generating 8.6 W of TEM₀₀ output power with optical conversion efficiency of 43% and slope efficiency of 48%, has been developed. The laser beam was nearly diffraction limited, with the beam quality factor measured to be M²=1.22. Under the conditions of multi-mode operation, the laser was able to produce 11.2 W of low-order transverse mode radiation (M²<2) at the incident pump power of 22 W, giving an optical conversion efficiency of 51%, and a slope efficiency of 55%.     

A laser beam deflection technique for the quantitative detection of ultrasonic Lamb waves

Ultrasonic Lamb waves have been measured with a quantitative optical beam deflection (OBD) technique. Calibration of the technique is derived for two cases of laser probe beam cross-section, one with a uniform beam and the other with a Gaussian beam intensity distribution. Expressions for angular beam deflection angle are derived for both cases in terms of the total light intensity falling on the photodetector, assumed to have a square-law voltage response. Using a Gaussian beam intensity distribution from a HeNe laser, the OBD measurements were compared with those from a Michelson interferometer to show that measurements were self-consistent.     

Three-Rod Resonator for Krypton Lamp Pumped 1.8 kW Continuous-Wave Nd：YAG Laser

A three-rod series resonator cw Nd:YAG laser suitable for the industrial applications is presented. The symmetrical resonator laser has been developed and is rated at 1820-W output power with beam parameter product 24 mm.mrad. By utilizing the symmetrical resonator design, the characteristic of beam with multi-rod is not obviously decreased compared with that of a single one. The system total electro-optics efficiency of lamp pumped YAG crystal is as high as 4.0%. The main factors, which affect output power and beam quality of high power solid-state laser module, are theoretically analysed.     

Phase-locking resonator with annular gain media

A new type of laser resonator that is designed to extract good phase coherence and circular beams from an annular gain region is developed. We also calculated the parameters theoretically by applying the resonator to a CO₂ laser. And the transfer characteristics of the output beam from the phase-locking laser resonator through a lens are also discussed.     

高光束质量、高功率稳定性激光器的设计及实验研究

高光束质量、高功率稳定性激光器在激光加工、激光测量等领域具有广泛的用途.为了实现激光器腔内光斑聚焦同时减少色散和体积,人们常常将曲面反射镜用在激光谐振腔中,但光束倾斜入射到曲面反射镜往往会引起像散,从而导致光斑质量恶化,并降低激光器的性能.另一方面,在高功率激光器或超短脉冲激光器中,激光增益介质热透镜焦距的起伏,是导致激光输出功率波动的主要原因之一.针对激光器的像散和功率波动这两个问题,本文提出了一套简单高效的解决方案,在考虑像散补偿和热透镜效应的基础上,基于传播变换圆理论,首次提出一种可实现高光束质量、高功率稳定性激光器谐振腔的设计方法,并对采用该方法所设计出的超短脉冲激光器进行理论与实验研究.研究结果表明,利用该方法设计的激光谐振腔,两端臂像散能够完全被补偿,实验上实现了基模高斯光束输出;当激光晶体热透镜焦距改变时,该方法所设计出的激光谐振腔内各关键位置光斑半径的变化,显著地小于普通谐振腔,在相同外界条件下,其输出激光功率稳定性明显优于普通激光器.