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US 2013/0279529 A1Published application
Compact high energy mid wave opcpa laser
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorEdward J. Miesak
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Abstract
Systems and methods of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification for laser pulses are provided. Techniques and components include replacing pulse stretcher and/or pulse compressors with chirped volume Bragg gratings (CVBGs) to reduce size, weight, cost, and environmental sensitivity of the laser system.
Claims21
A chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser system, the system comprising:
- a seed laser;
- a pump laser;
- an amplifier having an input side and an output side, where the seed laser and the pump laser are disposed on the input side of the amplifier;
- a chirped volume Bragg grating (CVBG) pulse stretcher disposed between the seed laser and the input side the amplifier;
- and
- a grating compressor disposed on the output side of the amplifier.
3 more elements
(canceled)
A method of generating a high-energy laser pulse in a chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser system, the method comprising:
- providing a seed laser signal from a seed laser source;
- providing a chirped volume Bragg grating (CVBG) pulse stretcher;
- stretching the provided seed laser signal with the CVBG pulse stretcher;
- amplifying the stretched laser signal with an amplifier, where said amplifying includes pumping the amplifier with a pump laser source;
- and
- compressing the amplified laser signal into an output pulse with a grating compressor.
3 more elements
An optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) laser system, the system comprising:
- a mid-wave, infra-red seed laser;
- a pump laser;
- an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) having an input side and an output side, where the seed laser and the pump laser are disposed on the input side of the OPA;
- a chirped volume Bragg grating (CVBG) pulse stretcher disposed between the seed laser and the input side the OPA;
- a signal grating compressor disposed on the output side of the OPA;
- an idler grating compressor disposed on the output side of the OPA;
- an idler extract module disposed between the output side of the OPA and the idler grating compressor;
- and
- a ruggedized enclosure that protects system components from damage, mis-alignment, and/or malfunction due to environmental factors.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.