High efficiency diode laser side-pumped Nd:YAG rod laser

High efficiency laser performance of 2 mm diameter and 20 mm long Nd:YAG crystal rod transversely pumped by laser diode array is presented. Using the directly side-coupled geometry enclosed by cylindrical pump cavity plated with gold, we obtained long pulse energy of 4.6 mJ corresponding to optical-to-optical slope efficiency of 37%. The complete solid-state Nd:YAG laser is described to be simple, compact and highly efficient. Q-switching of the laser is also reported.     

Analytical model for thermal lensing and spherical aberration in diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser rod having Gaussian pump profile

In this paper, according to the temperature and strain distribution obtained by considering the Gaussian pump profile and dependence of physical properties on temperature, we derive an analytical model for refractive index variations of the diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser rod. Then we evaluate this model by numerical solution and our maximum relative errors are 5% and 10% for variations caused by thermo–optical and thermo–mechanical effects; respectively. Finally, we present an analytical model for calculating the focal length of the thermal lens and spherical aberration. This model is evaluated by experimental results.     

Optimization algorithm for the pump structure of diode side-pumped solid-state lasers

The pump structure greatly influences the characteristics of a diode side-pumped solid-state laser (DSPSSL). To achieve high absorption efficiency and a homogeneous pump-beam distribution simultaneously, a systemic algorithm has been established to optimize the pump structure, where multiple reflections occur on the internal wall of the reflector inside the pump chamber. The absorption efficiency and the deviation of the absorption distribution are both evaluated for a typical solid-state laser medium. A scheme for identifying an ideal pump configuration was finally obtained from several determination procedures, in which all pump structure parameters were taken into account. The experimental results demonstrate that the approach described in this paper is effective for the design of DSPSSL systems with both high output power and good beam quality.     

Segmented circular LD arrays side-pumped a Nd:YAG laser rod

We design a Nd:YAG module with symmetrical LD side-pumped structure in a periodical arrangement between circular LD arrays and holders. This novel design has great potential to be used in compact and miniature laser systems. Design optimization and simulation on thermal effects have been performed. An experiment has also been carried out. The experiment results indicate the all-solid-state laser with the-Nd:YAG module can stably operate in the range of 10–30 Hz with no controlling temperature by TE cooler. The laser beam had a divergence angle less than 3.8 mrad and a maximum output pulse of 174 mJ has been obtained at the pump current of 50 A and working frequency of 23 Hz, corresponding to optical-optical conversion efficiency of 40.2%.     

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.     

二极管泵浦Nd:YAG棒双通放大器技术

二极管泵浦NdYAG棒双通放大器采用两个峰值功率6.5 kW激光泵浦模块作为泵浦源.每个激光泵浦模块由81个二极管激光器组成,NdYAG棒直径为6 mm,Nd掺杂质量分数1%.在两个封装方式和结构一致的激光泵浦模块之间采用光学像传递和插入90°石英旋转片进行退偏补偿.在重复频率400 Hz,谐振腔输出单脉冲能量6 mJ时,双通输出400 mJ,激光器光-光转换效率为12.3%,光束质量4.6,脉宽15 ns.     

LDA侧面泵浦固体激光器泵浦结构参数优化

为LDA侧面泵浦Nd∶YAG棒状固体激光器的优化设计、参数选取及后续试验提供了理论依据和参考,建立了环形侧面泵浦棒状介质泵浦光场分布数值计算模型,研究了LDA侧面泵浦固体Nd∶YAG激光器泵浦光场的分布特点。模拟分析了LDA的bar间距、玻璃管厚度、激光晶体半径等几个主要泵浦结构参数对泵浦光场分布的影响。通过对不同泵浦参数下泵浦光分布特性的数值计算,优化了LDA侧面泵浦固体激光器的泵浦结构参数,优化后的仿真结果表明:在泵浦距离为2 mm条件下,晶体直径为4 mm,玻璃管套筒厚度为1 mm,冷却水层厚度为1 mm时,泵浦光在晶体中心处强度相对值为40.8%,在晶体轴心附近分布比较均匀,且均匀分布区域相对较大。     

Effects of temperature on laser diode ignition

In this paper, the effects of temperature on laser diode ignition and the resulting consequences were discussed in detail through theoretical analysis, experiments and numerical calculations. The results indicated that the output power of laser diode decreases and the wavelength of laser redshifts with elevated working temperature under a certain condition. The threshold conditions of ignition for powders are easily satisfied with increase in ambient temperature. While the temperature reaches a high enough level, ignition can occur and also the self-combustion or thermal induced explosion can do, even if laser power is very low. Therefore, it is of great importance to carefully control the working temperature of laser diode and the ambient temperature of powder system, and in the meanwhile, to install necessary insurance apparatus in order to ensure the normal and safe operation of the ignition system.     

Calculated thermal distribution of non-uniform side-pumped laser rod by BEM and detection and simulation of phase shift in emerging ray

In this study, a steady-state heat transfer equation in a side-pumped Nd:YAG laser crystal is solved numerically using the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The temperature distribution and its gradient are calculated at arbitrary points inside the rod. Subsequently, by solving the ray equation and calculating the optical path integral along the length of the rod, the phase shift of the passing rays is obtained. Furthermore, this thermal phase shift is detected in practice by an interferometric experiment. Excellent agreement is observed between the calculated and experimental results.     

Thermal distribution calculation in diode pumped Nd:YAG laser rod by boundary element method

Boundary element method is used to calculate the temperature distribution by solving the heat transfer equation in a laser rod. Propagation of the pumping beam in the rod, that is assumed to be pumped longitudinally, results in a temperature gradient. Such a gradient produces radial variation of the refractive index and the rod behaves similar to a positive lens. Depending on the size of the pumping beam waist and absorption coefficient of the rod, a hot spot may form inside the rod.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations of quasi-continuous wave diode array side-pumped Yb＇YAG slab laser

An analytical model of quasi-continuous wave (quasi-CW) diode array side-pumped slab laser for Yb:YAG oscillator in long-pulse free-running has been developed based on the CW model. In this model we first introduce a new parameter, pump pulse width, and make the model available for use in the quasi-CW model. We also give an analytical equation of laser delay time to calculate the laser pulse width. A detailed model is also presented for a new structure laser design, taking account of the geometry of Yb:YAG slab. A quasi-CW diode array side-pumped Yb:YAG slab laser is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Experiments yield a quasi-CW output energy up to 20.36 mJ with the laser pulse width of 654.55 μs at 1049 nm when the diode arrays operate at 25 Hz and 1 ms pulse width. The crystal dimensions are 3 mm×8 mm×1 mm and the doping density is 10 at.%. The experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions of the theoretical model.     

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     

高功率环形激光二极管阵列重复脉冲抽运激光器中棒的瞬态温度分布

 采用光线追迹方法和有限元方法,对高功率环形激光二极管阵列（LDA）重复脉冲抽运Nd:YAG激光器中,棒的瞬态温度分布进行了详细的计算模拟,分析比较了不同抽运阶段、抽运频率及占空比的情况下棒内的瞬态温度分布。结果表明：高功率环形LDA重复脉冲抽运时,棒中心处温度随时间变化成锯齿形分布,棒内温度随抽运频率和占空比的增大而增大,最后温度随时间成周期性变化。     

激光束光强分布对材料激光加热的影响

对激光强度空间均匀分布光束、高斯、超高斯以及平顶高斯光束进行了分析比较,在激光功率与光斑半径相同条件下,计算了各种光束的峰值光强和光束填充因子与光束阶次的关系,给出了光强分布的表达式。并将不同空间分布的光束作为热源,耦合到材料热传导方程中,以数值计算说明了各种光束辐照下,2mm厚30CrMnSiA钢材料靶面不同的热效应。     

激光束光强分布对材料激光加热的影响

 对激光强度空间均匀分布光束、高斯、超高斯以及平顶高斯光束进行了分析比较,在激光功率与光斑半径相同条件下,计算了各种光束的峰值光强和光束填充因子与光束阶次的关系,给出了光强分布的表达式。并将不同空间分布的光束作为热源,耦合到材料热传导方程中,以数值计算说明了各种光束辐照下,2mm厚30CrMnSiA钢材料靶面不同的热效应。     

激光二极管端面泵浦Yb:YAG圆棒热效应研究

基于激光二极管端面泵浦Yb∶YAG棒工作特点的分析,提出了端面绝热、周边恒温的激光晶体热分析模型,采用了一种新的热传导方程求解方法,得到了超高斯光束端面泵浦Yb∶YAG棒温度场的一般解析表达式。同时分析了不同阶次、不同光斑半径、不同功率超高斯光束以及晶体参数改变时对于Yb∶YAG棒温度场分布的影响。研究结果表明,若准直聚焦到Yb∶YAG棒泵浦面42.5W的光束具有4阶超高斯强度分布时,掺Yb3+质量分数为10.0at.%、长度为2.5mm、半径为2mm的Yb∶YAG棒的泵浦面获得74.20℃的最高温升。新的热传导方程求解方法在研究激光棒温度场分布方面具有计算量小、精度高等特点。研究结果对减小激光晶体的热效应,提高全固态Yb∶YAG激光器性能提供了理论依据。     

光谱特性对半导体泵浦碱蒸气激光器性能的影响

以速率方程模型为基础研究了光谱特性对半导体泵浦碱蒸气激光器性能的影响。结果表明：碱蒸气激光器的运行存在最优温度,温度和长度对碱蒸气激光器性能的影响是等价的,可以定义一个与温度和长度无关的效率描述其它参量一定时激光器的最优效率;泵浦谱宽对阈值泵浦强度的影响是线性的,由于碱金属原子在谱线远翼具有较大吸收截面,即使泵浦谱宽几倍或十几倍于原子吸收谱宽时也可能获得较高的效率;原子吸收谱宽对阈值泵浦强度的影响是非线性的,随着原子吸收谱宽的增加激光器光-光效率出现饱和下降;泵浦谱宽和原子吸收谱宽越宽,半导体激光器由于温度或电流导致的中心波长漂移的影响越小,实际中采用外腔压窄的半导体激光器阵列（谱宽小于200 GHz）可以控制其温度或电流漂移,使得碱蒸气激光器的性能基本不受影响。     

Influence of injection patterns on chaos synchronization performance between a multimode laser diode and a single-mode laser

In this paper, based on a system composed of a multimode emitted laser diode and a single-mode received laser, chaos synchronization performance has been investigated numerically under different optical injection patterns. The results show that, for single mode injection (SMI) which means the received laser is injected by a selective longitudinal mode of the multimode emitted laser whose wavelength corresponds to that of the single-mode received laser, the system synchronization performance is better than that with multi mode injection (MMI); depending on the optical spectrum of the received laser, the physical mechanism of chaos synchronization deterioration for MMI is given. Additionally, after taking into account the parameter mismatches, the chaos synchronization performance of the system with different injection pattern have also been discussed. For either SMI or MMI, the synchronization performance with negative parameter mismatches is better than that with positive parameter mismatches.