Diode pumped alkali lasers

B. V. Zhdanov; R. J. Knize

doi:10.1117/12.897533

5 October 2011 Diode pumped alkali lasers

B. V. Zhdanov, R. J. Knize

Proceedings Volume 8187, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures VIII; 818707 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897533
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Diode pumped alkali lasers attract growing attention during the past several years because they have demonstrated potential to compete and, possibly, replace the best existing high power laser systems. In spite of the fact that an optically pumped alkali (potassium) vapor laser was first proposed by A.L. Schawlow and C.H. Townes in 1958, the intensive research and development of alkali vapor started only in 2003, when really efficient lasing in Rb and Cs vapors was demonstrated. The interest to this research was stimulated by the possibility of using efficient diode lasers for optical pumping of the alkali gain medium that promises high overall efficiency of the device. A variety of experiments on alkali lasers, including the demonstration of efficient Rb, Cs and K vapor lasers, power scaling experiments with multiple diode laser pumping sources and experiments on diode pumped alkali vapor amplifiers were performed during the past several years. In this paper we present a review of the most important achievements in high power alkali lasers research and development, discuss some problems existing in this field and future perspectives in DPAL development.

Citation Download Citation

B. V. Zhdanov and R. J. Knize "Diode pumped alkali lasers", Proc. SPIE 8187, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures VIII, 818707 (5 October 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897533

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