High power semiconductor laser array with single-mode emission

The semiconductor laser array with single-mode emission is presented in this paper.The 6-μm-wide ridge waveguides(RWGs)are fabricated to select the lateral mode.Thus the fundamental mode of laser array can be obtained by the RWGs.And the maximum output power of single-mode emission can reach 36 W at an injection current of 43 A,after that,a kink will appear.The slow axis(SA)far-field divergence angle of the unit is 13.65.The beam quality factor M;of the units determined by the second-order moment(SOM)method,is 1.2.This single-mode emission laser array can be used for laser processing.

Design and optimization methods towards a 10 kW high beam quality fiber laser based on the counter tandem pumping scheme

In this study,we investigated the influence of fiber parameters on stimulated Raman scattering(SRS)and identified a unique pattern of SRS evolution in the counter tandem pumping configuration.Our findings revealed that the SRS threshold in counter-pumping is predominantly determined by the length of the output delivery fiber rather than the gain fiber.By employing the counter tandem pumping scheme and optimizing the fiber parameters,a 10 kW fiber laser was achieved with beam quality M^(2)of 1.92.No mode instability or severe SRS limitation was observed.To our knowledge,this study achieved the highest beam quality in over 10 kW fiber lasers based on conventional double-clad Yb-doped fiber.

Transverse mode instability mitigation in a high-power confined-doped fiber amplifier with good beam quality through seed laser control

In this work,a confined-doped fiber with the core/inner-cladding diameter of 40/250μm and a relative doping ratio of 0.75 is fabricated through a modified chemical vapor deposition method combined with the chelate gas deposition technique,and subsequently applied in a tandem-pumped fiber amplifier for high-power operation and transverse mode instability(TMI)mitigation.Notably,the impacts of the seed laser power and mode purity are preliminarily investigated through comparative experiments.It is found that the TMI threshold could be significantly affected by the seed laser mode purity.The possible mechanism behind this phenomenon is proposed and revealed through comprehensive comparative experiments and theoretical analysis.Finally,a maximum output power of 7.49 kW is obtained with the beam quality factor of approximately 1.83,which is the highest output power ever reported in a forward tandem-pumped confined-doped fiber amplifier.This work could provide a good reference and practical solution to improve the TMI threshold and realize high-power high-brightness fiber lasers.

Progress in particle-beam-driven inertial fusion research: Activities in Japan

Research activities in Japan relevant to particle beam inertial fusion are briefly reviewed.These activities can be ascended to the 1980s.During the past three decades,significant progress in particle beam fusion,pulsed power systems,accelerator schemes for intense beams,target physics,and high-energy-density physics research has been made by a number of research groups at universities and accelerator facilities in Japan.High-flux ions have been extracted from laser ablation plasmas.Controllability of the ion velocity distribution in the plasma by an axial magnetic and/or electric field has realized a stable high-flux low-emittance beam injector.Beam dynamics have been studied both theoretically and experimentally.The efforts have been concentrated on the beam behavior during the final compression stage of intense beam accelerators.A novel accelerator scheme based on a repetitive induction modulator has been proposed as a cost-effective particle-beam driver scheme.Beam-plasma interaction and pulse-powered plasma experiments have been investigated as relevant studies of particle beam inertial fusion.An irradiation method to mitigate the instability in imploding target has been proposed using oscillating heavy-ion beams.The new irradiation method has reopened the exploration of direct drive scheme of particle beam fusion.

Conceptual design of the Kumgang laser: a high-power coherent beam combination laser using SC-SBS-PCMs towards a Dream laser

In this review paper, we introduce a self-phase controlled stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugate mirror(SCSBS-PCM) and the Kumgang laser. The SC-SBS-PCM was proposed and demonstrated its success at the academic low power level, ~100 mJ@10 Hz. The Kumgang laser is under development to verify whether the SC-SBS-PCM is operable at the k W level. It is a 4 kW beam combination laser combining four 1 k W beams using the SC-SBS-PCM. If the Kumgang laser functions successfully, it will be the most important step towards a Dream laser, a hypothetical laser with unlimited power and a high repetition rate.

High power and beam quality continuous-wave Nd:Gd VO_4 laser in-band diode-pumped at 912 nm

We report on the performance of a continuous-wave Nd:Gd VO_4 laser in-band diode-pumped at 912 nm with high output power and excellent beam quality. The laser produced an output power of 19.8 W at 1063 nm with an optical efficiency of 59.3% and slope efficiency of 62.7%. The laser threshold was ~2.04 W of the absorbed pump power, and the laser output beam quality was ≤ 1.2 in the horizontal and vertical directions. The strength of thermal lensing at full output power(33.4 W of absorbed power) was measured to be an average of 8.6 diopters.It is shown that thermal lensing is reduced by a factor of 2 with respect to the Nd:YVO_4 lasers, thus opening a way for further output-power scaling.

High power generation of adaptive laser beams in a Nd：YVO4 MOPA system

We report efficient power scaling of the laser output with an adaptive bemn profile from an Nd：YAG dual-cavity master oscillator using a three-stage end-pumped Nd：YVO4 amplifier. We succeed ill the last switching of an excited laser mode by modulating an acousto-optic modulator loss in a dual-cavity master oscillator, thereby achieving temporal modulation of the output beam profile. The outputs from the master oscillator are amplified via a three-stage power amplifier yielding 36.6, 40.5, and 45.4 W of the maximum output at 116.8 W of incident pump power for the transverse electromagnetic, Laguerre-Gaussian, and quasi-top-hat beam, respectively. The prospects for further power scaling and applications via the dual-cavity master-oscillator power-amplifier （MOPA） system are considered.

ARCTURUS laser: a versatile high-contrast,high-power multi-beam laser system

With the latest configuration,the Ti:Sa laser system ARCTURUS(Düsseldorf University,Germany)operates with a double-chirped pulse amplification(CPA)architecture delivering pulses with an energy of 7 J before compression in each of the two high-power beams.By the implementation of a plasma mirror system,the intrinsic laser contrast is enhanced up to 10^-12 on a time scale of hundreds of picoseconds,before the main peak.The laser system has been used in various configurations for advanced experiments and different studies have been carried out employing the high-power laser beams as a single,high-intensity interaction beam(I≈1020 W/cm^2),in dual-and multi-beam configurations or in a pump–probe arrangement.

Two-dimensional beam shaping and homogenization of high power laser diode stack with rectangular waveguide

In this paper, the research work of twodimensional beam shaping and homogenization of high power laser diode (LD) stack by a rectangular waveguide is presented. Both the theoretical simulation and experiment results have shown that the diode stack beam can be shaped into a uniform square spot with a dimension of 10 mm×10 mm and the non-uniformity less than 5% along both directions of slow axis and fast axis, the shaped beam has a uniform pumping depth over 10 mm, which is well to be used for a rectangular laser medium end pumping.

To the space by laser light (II)

New approach to the problem of laser jet engine (LJE) creation is based on the use of shock waves (SW) resonance association mechanism, generated by the optical pulsating discharge (OPD). For the creation OPD is proposed to use powerful pulse - periodic (P-P) laser radiation with duration of pulses ~ 100 - 150 ns and high pulse repetition frequency ~ 50 - 100 kHz. OPD is formed with the help of matrix of reflectors (MR). This is allowed: several times to increase the effectiveness of laser emission use for purposes of LJE creation, to avoid strong impact loads on the apparatus, to exclude the thermal action of laser plasma on the reflector, to decrease the laser emission screening by plasma, to remove the problem of the resonance oscillations appearance into the object moved with the help of laser. In our article the estimations of possible LJE thrust levels under the conditions of the proposed mechanism of reactive motion are given. Also, the new approaches to the creation of the high power high repetition rate laser systems for the “Impulsar” program are examined.

高能激光短距离传输光束质量测量仿真与实验研究

准确测量光束质量对于高能激光系统性能的评估至关重要,相比传统的远距离传输测量后再修正的方法,短距离传输后的光束质量更接近激光系统出口处的真实情况。建立激光短距离传输模型,采用多层相位屏法,分析空气湍流等因素对激光远场光斑形态和光束质量的影响。结果表明,在20 m的较短传输路径上,风速、空气相对湿度、功率等影响热晕效应的因素对光束质量影响较小,常规条件范围内,光束质量因子β值劣化不超过15%,而空气湍流效应对高能激光光束质量的影响较明显,随着空气湍流强度C_(n)^(2)由1×10^(-18)m^(-2/3)增大到1×10^(-12)m^(-2/3),β值从1.0848增大至8.9933;湍流强度对不同口径激光光束的光束质量影响也不尽相同,口径越大,受湍流强度影响越大。文中搭建实物光路,使用700 mm口径平行光管进行验证,在C_(n)^(2)<1×10^(-14)m^(-2/3)的情况下,测得2.63,与模拟结果相符,实验中还发现,可以通过搅散空气的方法来减小湍流强度。实验结果表明:将空气湍流强度控制在1×10^(-14)m^(-2/3)以下,光束质量因子不小于3的高能激光系统光束质量测量偏差小于5%,为大口径激光系统出口光束质量测量提供一种解决方案。

高功率激光器光束质量测量的衰减缩束仿真研究

光束质量因子M^(2)是表征高功率激光器横模特性的主要参数,针对目前光束质量分析仪只能用于小口径、低功率激光器光束质量评估的问题,开展了高功率激光器光束质量测量的衰减缩束技术原理与仿真研究。建立了衰减缩束组件的仿真模型,利用有限元的方法对光学元件在高功率激光下的热致像差进行研究,得出热致像差的峰谷(PV)值小于82 nm时,对光束质量因子的影响小于5%。当光束通过衰减组件时,如果发生退偏,光束质量因子将偏小。基于泽尼克多项式和光束质量因子计算模型,研究分析了缩束组件波前畸变对测量的影响,并通过Zemax仿真分析看出,在装调时入射光与缩束组件中心光轴夹角视场小于7°时,对光束质量因子测量的影响小于5%。

高功率高亮度半导体激光器合束进展

半导体激光器体积小、效率高,但单元输出功率低、光束质量差限制了其应用。介绍了提升半导体激光器功率及光束质量的最新进展,对各种技术途径和实验结果进行了综述报道,并具体介绍了中国科学院长春光学精密机械与物理研究所近年来在高亮度半导体激光器芯片及合束方面取得的进展。

大功率半导体激光合束进展

经过近30年的发展,半导体激光器已由信息器件逐步发展成为能量器件,特别是大功率高光束质量半导体激光器,已从泵浦光源过渡成为直接作用光源,并部分应用在加工及国防领域。本文介绍了大功率半导体激光单元发展现状,分析讨论了各种激光合束技术及相应的合束光源,介绍了长春光机所在激光合束方面所做的部分工作,提出了我国半导体激光产业建设及发展的几点建议,并对半导体激光技术的发展新动向进行了展望。随着单元亮度的提升和合束技术的成熟,大功率半导体激光源作为间接光源和直接作用光源将在国防和工业领域大放异彩。

强激光光束质量评价和测量方法研究

长期以来对于强激光光束质量一直没有统一的评价标准和规范的测量方法,这给强激光系统的试验鉴定带来很大困难,也给科学研究和工程应用带来诸多不便。针对系统性能测试评价的迫切需要,对此问题进行了分析和研究,提出了一种光束质量的评价方法和具体的测量方法及技术。

强激光远场光斑强度分布测量技术

准确测量激光远场光斑强度时空分布是分析强激光大气传输效应和评价激光系统性能的有效手段。概述了测量激光光斑强度分布的几种方法及其适用性,重点叙述了基于阵列探测法的强激光远场光斑强度分布测量技术,总结分析了量热阵列法、光电阵列法和量热/光电复合法等三类阵列探测系统应用特点。最后介绍了两种分别用于测量连续波高能激光和重频脉冲激光的光电阵列靶斑仪,系统具有结构紧凑的特点,能够满足运动靶目标上强激光参数测量要求。

平滑化窄脉冲高功率准分子激光放大技术

对于高功率准分子激光,光学角多路和诱导空间非相干（EFISI）光束平滑是高功率准分子激光压缩脉宽、提高功率密度和实现靶面均匀辐照的有效途径,其应用涉及前端至靶前的各个环节,主要体现为平滑化窄脉冲激光的传输放大问题。首先介绍了基于散射法开展的部分相干源前端技术及脉冲整形的初步研究结果,利用直接法和反射率耦合方法,研究了5台激光放大器增益特性。然后,讨论了窄脉宽激光放大时的自发辐射放大（ASE）控制技术,最后,介绍了窄脉冲激光放大实验系统。实验获得了预期的实验结果,输出能量为56 J,激光脉宽约10 ns,聚焦光斑约Φ300μm。单路系统实验结果表明,系统放大链和光学设计合理,基本满足角多路MOPA系统的技术验证要求,为系统工程设计奠定基础。

高功率半导体激光器光纤耦合模块

光纤耦合输出的高功率激光二极管模块具有体积小、光束质量好、亮度高等特点,在泵浦光纤激光器、材料处理、医疗仪器等领域都获得了广泛的应用。为了进一步提高光纤耦合激光二极管模块的输出功率,提出了基于多只激光二极管串联的光纤耦合方法。这种方法具有耦合效率高、光学元件加工简单等特点。利用两组反射镜,将多只高功率激光二极管输出光束经准直、复合、聚焦,耦合进光纤输出,根据激光二极管和光纤的相关参数设计了聚焦透镜。利用特殊加工的AlN材料作为过渡热沉解决了激光二极管的导热和相互之间的绝缘问题。采用这种方法将4只输出波长为980nm的高功率激光二极管输出光束耦合进数值孔径0.22、芯径100μm的多模光纤中,当工作电流为4.0A时,光纤连续输出功率为11.6W,耦合效率大于79%。

光束横截面能量分布的变化对激光焊接的影响

大功率CO2 混合模激光束在传输过程中 ,其光束横截面能量不再是高斯分布 ,是受附加相移的影响 ,在不同的传输距离 ,横截面能量分布呈规则变化。对于聚焦激光束 ,在焦点附近 ,由于横截面能量分布的不相同 ,传统的关于负离焦的焊接质量比正离焦好的观点将不再适用。而且在不同的加工位置 ,聚焦激光束的横截面能量分布也不相同 ,必然其加工质量也不相同 ,这样对于同一激光束 ,虽然其光束质量是一定的 ,但并不能获得相同的加工质量 ,因此采用光束质量来衡量激光焊接能力还不够充分 ,还应看光束横截面能量分布的精细结构。对于本文所研究的一种激光束 ,其模式含量TEM0 0约为 2 0 % ,TEM0 2约为 80 % ,在不同加工位置的聚焦光束的横截面能量分布将呈现“凹”形和“山”形两类 ,这两种横截面能量分布的焦斑对焊缝成形的影响是不相同的。试验研究表明 ,“凹”形焦斑焊接质量较差 ,而“山”形的焊接质量较好。

用远场法研究自由旋气动窗口的光学特性

采用Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光，对穿过自由族气动窗口的远场聚焦光斑进行图像采集和数 据处理，研究气动窗口对透过其输出通道的激光束所带来的偏转和随机抖动现象，计算分析气 动窗口对激光束发散特性的影响，定义和实验研究气动窗口的光束质量β因子。同时，分析讨 论气动窗口对激光束远场聚焦光斑光强分布的影响，并提出气动窗口光束质量和气动窗口设 计的进一步研究思路。