High Peak Power, High PRF Laser System

For many applications of laser techniques, it is often desirable to have a laser device capable of producing output having high peak power, high pulse rate and narrow pulse width. Several techniques have been developed in the art in an effort to attain such output.

There are two major difficulties in developing a high peak power, high pulse repetition frequency solid state laser system. Thermal problems are present due to high average powers, and narrow pulse widths are difficult to obtain due to the low gain of a continuous wave pumped oscillator. A technique of the prior art uses an acousto-optic Q-switch which can sustain high average powers. However, such a device produces long pulse widths due to a low gain cavity and slow switching time. Another approach uses electro-optic Q-switches in a pseudo cavity dumping technique which yields narrow pulses and high peak powers at low pulse repetition frequencies. This system, however, becomes unstable due to thermal induced birefringence when the high average powers of high pulse repetition frequencies are encountered.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a laser system which overcomes the above noted disadvantages inherent in the devices of the prior art.

It is an object of this invention to provide a solid state laser device which is capable of producing output having high peak power, high pulse repetition frequency and narrow pulses.

The present invention provides the highest ratio of peak power to average power presently attainable in a continuous wave pumped laser. High peak powers and high pulse rates are obtained by using two types of modulators, an acousto-optic shutter and a frustrated total internal reflectance (FTIR) Q-switch. Both devices operate efficiently at high average powers and the FTIR switches very rapidly. The laser system of the present invention effectively overcomes the problems associated with the prior art approaches.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a solid state laser device constructed in accordance with the present invention, having the FTIR in its reflective state.

FIG. 2 illustrates the laser system of FIG. 1 having the FTIR Q-switch in its transmissive state.

FIGS. 3a-3b illustrate in greater detail the FTIR device utilized in the system of the present invention.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a solid state laser device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus may comprise, for example, an Nd:YAG (neodymium: yttrium aluminium garnet) laser. The laser device comprises essentially a flash tube 2, rod 4 comprising the laser medium, and reflectors 6. The mode of operation of this device is well-known and documented in the art. (Note Beesley, Lasers and Their Applications, Barnes and Noble, Inc., New York, 1971). The apparatus additionally comprises 100 percent reflecting mirrors 8, 10, acousto-optic shutter 12, and an FTIR Q-switch 14.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the FTIR comprises generally two prisms 16, 18 separated from one another by a gap 19. Arrow A in FIG. 3a represents radiant energy entering the FTIR. When the dimension of gap 19 is greater than one wavelength of the incident radiation, the FTIR will reflect the radiation in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 3a. If the dimension of the gap is less than one wavelength, the radiant energy will be transmitted through the gap as indicated by arrow T in FIG. 3a. Relative movement of prisms 16 and 18 therefore switch the FTIR from a totally reflective state to a totally transmissive state.

In order to effect relative movement of the prisms, piezoelectric devices 20 and 22 may be associated with prisms 16 and 18, respectively. The piezoelectric transducers 20 and 22 comprise material which expands upon the application of an electric impulse thereto. Upon application of such an impulse, the transducers bulge to force the prisms to move relatively closer to one another. Openings 21 and 23 may be provided in the transducers 20 and 22, respectively, in order to allow for passage of light therethrough. An FTIR device as described above is available from Erickson Laser Products, Silver Spring, Maryland.

In operation, the flash tube illumination initially holds the energy in the rod 4 above threshold but lasing is prevented by the acousto-optic shutter. When the acousto-optic shutter opens, lasing begins. It is to be noted that no pumping synchronization is required in this system. At this point, the FTIR is in a totally reflective state as illustrated in FIG. 1. The beam is reflected by the FTIR and the energy is completely contained in the interferometer made up of the two 100 percent reflective mirrors 8 and 10. The path of the reflective beam is represented by the dashed line in FIG. 1.

The beam is allowed to circulate in the interferometer until all of the extractable energy is depleted from the rod. The FTIR is then quickly changed from totally reflective to totally transmissive, and all of the energy is quickly dumped from the system, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Because the prisms 16 and 18 of the FTIR are spaced from one another by a very small distance (on the order of one micron) the action of piezoelectric transducers 20 and 22 can very rapidly bring the prisms closer together in order to render the FTIR totally transmissive.

The disclosed laser system utilizes unique switching concepts which provide previously unattainable laser pulse parameters which are extremely useful in many applications. The system of the present invention represents an advancement in the state of the art of high peak power laser systems that operate at pulse rates of several thousand Hertz. The present system provides high peak power, high pulse rate, and narrow pulses in a combination which has never been attainable in solid state lasers utilizing standard Q-switching techniques. The unique configuration of the acousto-optic shutter and the FTIR Q-switch can withstand very high average powers, allowing the laser system to operate at very high pulse repetition frequencies. Also, since the energy is depleted from the rod prior to dumping from the system, much shorter pulse widths are obtainable than can be achieved from a conventional Q-switched continuous wave pumped system.

Though the present invention is disclosed and described with relation to the accompanying drawings, we do not wish to be limited to the details shown therein as obvious modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art.