Increased efficiency and performance in laser pump chambers through use of diffuse highly reflective materials

Bryn Waldwick; Christina Chase; Bob Y. Chang

doi:10.1117/12.735061

12 September 2007 Increased efficiency and performance in laser pump chambers through use of diffuse highly reflective materials

Bryn Waldwick, Christina Chase, Bob Y. Chang

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6663, Laser Beam Shaping VIII; 66630N (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.735061
Event: Photonic Devices + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The use of diffuse reflectance materials in laser pump reflector design can lead to significant improvements in laser performance over reflectors employing more traditional, specular (or mirror-like) reflectors. Diffuse reflectors provide a more predictable and uniform beam profile, and reduced susceptibility to parasitic oscillations. Since laser pumping involves multiple reflections within the pump chamber, the efficiency of a laser pump chamber can be significantly affected by relatively small changes in reflectance. For example, a chamber with a reflectance factor of approximately 99% over the 400 to 1000 nm range, can provide a 15% gain in performance over a comparable 98% reflective chamber, even though the reflectance factor is only 1-2% lower. Much larger gains are possible over typical ceramic reflectors. This paper will examine high performance PTFE as a reflector in laser pump chambers compared to other materials. Gains in performance through reflectance and diffuseness are shown through mathematical models, experimental results and real world case studies.

Citation Download Citation

Bryn Waldwick, Christina Chase, and Bob Y. Chang "Increased efficiency and performance in laser pump chambers through use of diffuse highly reflective materials", Proc. SPIE 6663, Laser Beam Shaping VIII, 66630N (12 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.735061

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