The effects of atomic rubidium vapor on the performance of optical windows in Diode Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPALs)

Quarrie, Lindsay

doi:10.1016/j.optmat.2012.10.040

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…A relatively low collisional relaxation rate of 4 5 1 1 → s s may form a bottleneck in the population cycling process [14]. (2) The population in upper pump ( 9 2p ) and laser ( 10 2p ) levels could be further collisionally relaxed into higher levels by endothermic processes, especially to the 8 2p level, which subsequently radiates to the 5 1s , 4 1s and 2 1s states. (3)…”

Section: Theoretical Model Of Oprglsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, due to the highly reactive nature of alkali metals, there are chemical reaction challenges and engineering difficulties for DPALs. For example, under high intense pumping, the alkali atoms may react with hydrocarbons [6,7] and window materials [8], which deplete the neutral alkali atoms and contaminate the windows. As vapor rather than gas, the concentration of alkali atoms is highly dependent on the gain cell's temperature, especially the coldest point of the total gain cell, which enhances the engineering complexity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling of diode pumped metastable rare gas lasers

Yang¹,

Yu²,

Wang³

et al. 2015

Opt. Express

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As a new kind of optically pumped gaseous lasers, diode pumped metastable rare gas lasers (OPRGLs) show potential in high power operation. In this paper, a multi-level rate equation based model of OPRGL is established. A qualitative agreement between simulation and Rawlins et al.'s experimental result shows the validity of the model. The key parameters' influences and energy distribution characteristics are theoretically studied, which is useful for the optimized design of high efficient OPRGLs.

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Section: Theoretical Model Of Oprglsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of diode pumped metastable rare gas lasers

Yang¹,

Yu²,

Wang³

et al. 2015

Opt. Express

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“…The development of DPAL systems has been impeded, in part, by the degradation and eventual failure of the laser windows . The primary laser window is made of quartz with an anti‐reflective (AR) coating on the surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The more densely packed the grains in amorphous material or the high degree of crystallinity are both major factors in a material's ability to resist diffusion . Additional factors include electronegativity and electron affinity of the material, bond dissociation energies, crystal structure, and defects therein, and enthalpy of formation relative to that of its reaction products with rubidium …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ToF‐SIMS Characterization of Robust Window Material for Use in Diode Pumped Alkali Lasers

Fletcher

Turner

Fairchild

et al. 2017

Physica Status Solidi (a)

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Developments in diode pumped alkali laser (DPAL) systems have been impeded because of the catastrophic failure of laser windows. The window's failure is caused by localized laser‐induced heating of window material. This heating is believed to occur due to increases in absorption on or near the surface of the window. This increase is believed to be caused by either adsorption of carbon‐based soot from the collisional gas or by the diffusion of rubidium into the bulk material. The work presented here focuses on the diffusion of Rb into the bulk window materials and strives to identify a superior material to use as windows. The results of this research indicate that aluminum oxynitride (ALON), sapphire, MgAl2O4 (spinel), and ZrO2 are resistant to alkali‐induced changes in optical properties.

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“…One important issue that needs to be addressed is that the optical windows of the gain medium of DPAL lasers are degraded by atomic rubidium. 2 This degradation negatively affects the optical performance and output power of the laser, partially because of the reduced availability or number density of the rubidium atoms for pumping owing to their diffusion into the silica glass of the gain medium. The windows of the gain medium scatter light, heats up and also melts.…”

Section: Introduction: Diode Pumped Alkali Lasersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical simulations of protective thin film Fabry-Pérot filters for integrated optical elements of diode pumped alkali lasers (DPAL)

Quarrie

2014

AIP Advances

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The lifetime of Diode-Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPALs) is limited by damage initiated by reaction of the glass envelope of its gain medium with rubidium vapor. Rubidium is absorbed into the glass and the rubidium cations diffuse through the glass structure, breaking bridging Si-O bonds. A damage-resistant thin film was developed enhancing high-optical transmission at natural rubidium resonance input and output laser beam wavelengths of 780 nm and 795 nm, while protecting the optical windows of the gain cell in a DPAL. The methodology developed here can be readily modified for simulation of expected transmission performance at input pump and output laser wavelengths using different combination of thin film materials in a DPAL. High coupling efficiency of the light through the gas cell was accomplished by matching the air-glass and glass-gas interfaces at the appropriate wavelengths using a dielectric stack of high and low index of refraction materials selected to work at the laser energies and protected from the alkali metal vapor in the gain cell. Thin films as oxides of aluminum, zirconium, tantalum, and silicon were selected allowing the creation of Fabry-Perot optical filters on the optical windows achieving close to 100% laser transmission in a solid optic combination of window and highly reflective mirror. This approach allows for the development of a new whole solid optic laser.

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The effects of atomic rubidium vapor on the performance of optical windows in Diode Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPALs)

Cited by 16 publications

References 9 publications

Modeling of diode pumped metastable rare gas lasers

Modeling of diode pumped metastable rare gas lasers

ToF‐SIMS Characterization of Robust Window Material for Use in Diode Pumped Alkali Lasers

Theoretical simulations of protective thin film Fabry-Pérot filters for integrated optical elements of diode pumped alkali lasers (DPAL)

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