High average power scaleable thin-disk laser

US6347109B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Raymond J. Beach · Livermore, US
• Eric C. Honea · Seattle, US
• Camille Bibeau · Dublin, US
• Stephen A. Payne · Castro Valley, US
• Howard T. Powell · Livermore, US
• William F. Krupke · Pleasanton, US
• Steven Barry Sutton · Wilmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 25, 1999
• Grant date: Feb 12, 2002
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S2301/02
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Using a thin disk laser gain element with an undoped cap layer enables the scaling of lasers to extremely high average output power values. Ordinarily, the power scaling of such thin disk lasers is limited by the deleterious effects of amplified spontaneous emission. By using an undoped cap layer diffusion bonded to the thin disk, the onset of amplified spontaneous emission does not occur as readily as if no cap layer is used, and much larger transverse thin disks can be effectively used as laser gain elements. This invention can be used as a high average power laser for material processing applications as well as for weapon and air defense applications.