Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Bae Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration Inc.

Kevin J Snell

John C McCarthy

Scott D Setzler

The problem of the low efficiency of large quantum defect optical parametric oscillators is solved by recycling unused photons in a process involving pumping additional parametric processes having a common resonant wavelength. In order to improve the efficiency, a series of optical parametric oscillators are pumped with unused signal photons which exist at the output of a previous optical parametric oscillator that generates both signal and idler outputs, with the idler constituting the desired output.

Efficient optical parametric oscillator with photon recycling

By substituting a ring optical parametric oscillator for the linear cavity, one eliminates the effects of feedback solved in the prior art by the use of isolators and by the purposeful off-axis alignment of the pump laser beam. The result is an exceedingly robust system with state-of-the-art efficiency for maximizing output power while preserving beam quality.

Ring optical parametric oscillator/optical parametric amplifier combination in single beamline

A modified V-groove structure in a double clad laser system permits multiple emitter side pumping of a fiber laser. In one embodiment, a stack of at least five emitters have individual outputs coupled into the inner cladding, with as many sources as desired coupled to the fiber to raise the cumulative pumping power to in excess of 2-KW, thus to achieve a 1-KW fiber laser.

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Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Kevin J Snell