Model calculations of kinetic and fluid dynamic processes in diode pumped alkali lasers.

Boris D. Barmashenko, Salman Rosenwaks, Karol Waichman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Kinetic and fluid dynamic processes in diode pumped alkali lasers (DPALs) are analyzed in detail using a semianalytical model, applicable to both static and flowing-gas devices. The model takes into account effects of temperature rise, excitation of neutral alkali atoms to high lying electronic states and their losses due to ionization and chemical reactions, resulting in a decrease of the pump absorption, slope efficiency and lasing power. Effects of natural convection in static DPALs are also taken into account. The model is applied to Cs DPALs and the results are in good agreement with measurements in a static [B.V. Zhdanov, J. Sell and R.J. Knize, Electron. Lett. 44, 582 (2008)] and 1-kW flowing-gas [A.V. Bogachev et al., Quantum Electron. 42, 95 (2012)] DPALs. It predicts the dependence of power on the flow velocity in flowing-gas DPALs and on the buffer gas composition. The maximum values of the laser power can be substantially increased by optimization of the flowing-gas DPAL parameters. In particular for the aforementioned 1 kW DPAL, 6 kW maximum power is achievable just by increasing the pump power and the temperature of the wall and the gas at the flow inlet (resulting in increase of the alkali saturated vapor density). Dependence of the lasing power on the pump power is non-monotonic: the power first increases, achieves its maximum and then decreases. The decrease of the lasing power with increasing pump power at large values of the latter is due to the rise of the aforementioned losses of the alkali atoms as a result of ionization. Work in progress applying two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics modeling of flowing-gas DPALs is also reported.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationTechnologies for Optical Countermeasures X; and High-Power Lasers 2013
Subtitle of host publicationTechnology and Systems
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Dec 2013
EventTechnologies for Optical Countermeasures X; and High-Power Lasers 2013: Technology and Systems - Dresden, Germany
Duration: 23 Sep 201326 Sep 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8898

Conference

ConferenceTechnologies for Optical Countermeasures X; and High-Power Lasers 2013: Technology and Systems
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityDresden
Period23/09/1326/09/13

Keywords

  • Diode pumping
  • Gas flows
  • Gas lasers

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Model calculations of kinetic and fluid dynamic processes in diode pumped alkali lasers.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this