Trw Limited

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

John A Szot

James M Zamel

Richard H Moyer

Randall St Pierre

David A Burchman

A laser gain device () holds a laser slab () which is pumped by pump energy from at least one diode array assembly (). An angle at which pump energy from the diode array assembly () impinges the laser slab () is adjustable via angle adjustment means. The laser slab () is mounted between edge bars () which have laser slab spacers () extending therethrough, allowing laser slabs () of different widths to be mounted within the laser gain device (). One or more pump energy shields () are used to control the amount of pump energy entering the laser slab (), and cooling liquid conduits () are provided throughout components of the laser gain device (), serving to conductively cool a heat shield ().

Diode-pumped solid-state laser gain module

A solid state laser apparatus 10 including a laser gain module 12 for generating high energy laser beams 50 and 52 accompanied by non-lasing radiation 60 which, generates heat in the environment of the laser gain module and the apparatus, generally having an adverse affect on the performance of the apparatus. A heat shield 14 encloses the laser gain module to absorb the non-lasing radiation 60 to shield the components surrounding the shield against temperature increases above levels that adversely affect the laser performance and shields the reflective units 20 and 22. Affixed to the heat shield 14 is a cooling pipe 66 which provides coolant to the roof 64 of the heat shield 14 removing the heat that is absorbed. The pipe 66 is connected to a heat exchanger and pump 24 that circulates coolant through the piping. The heat shield 14 and the cooling apparatus 66 and 24 are designed to keep the temperature increases within 20.degree. C. of the nominal base operating temperature for a particular system.

Thermal radiation shield for laser gain module

A beam monitoring assembly (10) that provides near-field imaging, far-field imaging and power measurements of a laser beam (12) in real-time for alignment and performance verification purposes. The monitoring assembly (10) includes a holographic beam splitter (24) that splits the laser beam (12) from the laser resonator cavity into a series of separate split beams (28, 30, 32) having varying beam powers. One of the split beams (28) is directed to a power meter (36) to measure the power of the beam (12). One of the split beams (28) is directed to a near-field camera (42) that provides a near-field image of the beam (12). Another one of the split beams (30) is directed to a heat dump (52) that absorbs and removes the beam's energy from the assembly. Another one of the split beams (32) is directed to a far-field lens (46) that focuses the split beam (32) onto a far-field camera (50) that provides a far-field image of the beam (12). The near-field and far-field images of the beam (12) are displayed on an operator control panel in real time. Suitable computer electronics (38) and camera electronics (58) are provided to process the electrical signals from the power meter (36) and the cameras (42, 50).

Beam monitoring assembly

A polarizer/modulator assembly (10) including a polarizing unit (12) and a modulator unit (14) that are selectively and independently positionable within a resonator cavity of a solid state diode slab laser. The polarizing unit (12) includes a pair of polarizing elements (32, 34) positioned in a 'V-shaped' configuration so that both elements (32, 34) are positioned at Brewster's angle with respect to the beam path to combine to polarize the light in the same direction. The combination of the polarizing elements (32, 34) eliminates beam deflection when the polarizer unit (12) is inserted into the beam path. The polarizing elements (32, 34) are mounted in a metal housing (30) that captures rejected light from the polarizing elements (32, 34). The housing (30) includes a cooling tube (52) to control temperature of the housing (30) during temperature build-up caused by the rejected light.

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Hermosa Beach, CA, United States of America

John A Szot