Activities on diode pumped alkali laser (DPAL) in Japan are updated. Since the last presentation in Chengdu, we have continued our DPAL research mainly targeting the development of tools for future scaling-up and high-efficiency operation. In particular, the focus is on a numerical simulation that combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wave optics. To confirm the agreement between the experimental and simulation results, we designed and built several experimental apparatuses. Our latest gas-flow type DPAL produced 15.5 W output power with 80% slope efficiency based on the absorbed pump light. The agreement with theoretical prediction was excellent not only for output power but also for transverse mode shape and beam quality. Additionally, to accurately predict the performance of Cs DPAL, we measured the main reaction cross sections, namely, mixing and quenching reaction cross sections of the two P states of Cs with various hydrocarbon buffer gases. The main result of the repetitive pulsed operation by the cavity dumping technique and relevant numerical simulation is also discussed.
Unstable optical resonators employing graded reflectivity mirrors (GRMs) for diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) are theoretically studied. In this study, a wave optics resonator model was coupled with a simplified gas flow model. The platform modeled was a 100-W class Cs DPAL proposed by us. As the pump beams are obliquely incident to the active medium, a wide gain region appears compared with that of the axially pumping scheme. Although an unstable resonator was expected to be suitable to provide a high-quality output beam, it was found to be inapplicable for our relatively small-scale DPAL apparatus. Instead, we demonstrated that the application of a GRM unstable resonator provide a nearly diffraction-limited beam (M2 < 2) with minimal penalty for the output power. The effect of the gas flow on the beam quality is also discussed.
KEYWORDS: Chemical oxygen iodine lasers, Fiber lasers, High power lasers, Photography, Laser development, Single mode fibers, Laser energy, Weapons, Laser applications, Laser systems engineering
Activities on high power laser at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) are reviewed. We started R and D of high power laser technologies from the development of Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) for industrial application in 1886. With advent of the 21st century, we shifted the application of our COIL technologies, and successfully received the contract of major high power laser R and D program from the Japan Ministry of Defense (J-MoD) in 2010. The COIL has many attractive features such as high power, good beam quality, etc., but the system is a bit complicated due to the chemical pumping. Currently, we are developing single-mode fiber laser and beam combing technologies for the downsizing of military high power laser.
Cesium diode pumped alkali lasers (DPALs) have been operated using various hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, and propane) and helium as a buffer gas. We find that the optimum partial pressure of hydrocarbons depends on the cross sections of the upper-state mixing reaction, while the maximum output power does not depend on the hydrocarbon species. Because the cross section of the quenching reaction between cesium and these hydrocarbons is significantly smaller than that for the upper-state mixing reaction, no direct measurement of such cross sections has been attempted to date. In this study, we attempted to determine the cross sections with the aid of DPAL simulation. Output power calculations were repeated by varying the quenching cross sections until a reasonable agreement with the experiments was met. The results indicated that the quenching cross sections of methane, ethane, and propane were 0.05 ± 0.03, 0.14 ± 0.04, and 0.23 ± 0.07 Å2, respectively. The validity of the results is supported by the fact that the cross section of methane obtained is consistent with that suggested by Yacoby et al. [Opt. Express 26, 17814 (2018)].
A scalable pumping method for a diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) is proposed. In the past, pump beams were collinearly or transversely arranged to the optical axis of the optical resonator. In our proposal, pump sources are circularly arranged around the optical axis, and the pump beams irradiate the gain cell at a small (0.1 radians) angle from the optical axis. Tens of pump beams can be coupled to the gain medium with high circular symmetry and high coupling efficiency. The idea was verified by numerical simulation, and the results were validated by experimental investigation.
We have developed a small-scale, diode-pumped alkali laser with a closed-loop gas circulation device and investigated the effect of gas circulation on the laser output power. The gain cell, with a 5 cm active length, is fitted with antireflection windows, and a cross-flow fan is incorporated inside it. The active medium is composed of cesium, hydrocarbon, and a buffer gas whose total pressure is approximately 2 atmospheres. The laser output power was measured as a function of the gas flow velocity for different buffer gases. In the case of argon, the laser power was strongly dependent on the gas flow velocity, whereas it was almost independent of the gas flow in the case of helium. The maximum output power of the argon buffer was close to that of the helium buffer when the gas velocity exceeded 6 m/s. The experimental results were in good agreement with the numerical simulations.
A numerical simulation code for a diode pumped alkali laser (DPAL) was developed. The code employs the Fresnel- Kirchhoff diffraction integral for both laser mode and pump light propagations. A three-dimensional rate equation set was developed to determine the local gain. The spectral divergence of the pump beam was represented by a series of monochromatic beams with different wavelengths. The calculated results showed an excellent agreements with relevant experimental results. It was found that the main channel of the pump power drain is the spontaneous emission from the upper level of the lasing transition.
Activities on diode pumped alkali laser (DPAL) in Japan is reviewed. We have started alkali laser works in 2011, and currently, we are the only players in Japan. Our interests are application oriented, and it is not only defense but also industrial. DPAL is a good candidate as a source of remote laser machining, thanks to its scalability and extremely good beam quality. We are studying on scientific and engineering problems of Cs DPAL with a small-scale apparatus. A commercial diode laser with volume Bragg grating outcoupler is used to pump the gain cell longitudinally. A 6.5 W continuous-wave output with optical to optical efficiency of 56% (based on the absorbed power) has been achieved. Numerical simulation codes are developed to understand the physics of DPAL and to help future developments.
A small-scale cesium diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) apparatus has been developed for fundamental researches. A commercial laser diode with volume Bragg grating outcoupler is used to pump the gain cell longitudinally. Both windows of the gain cell are set at Brewster’s angle for minimum loss and maximum durability. Output coupling coefficient is continuously variable from 13% to 85% by the slanted quartz plate outcoupler inserted in the optical resonator. Small signal gain is measured with a laser diode probe at various gain cell temperatures. A 6.5 W continuouswave output with 56% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency (based on the absorbed power) has been achieved. A numerical simulation code is developed and its calculation results are in good agreement with the experiments.
An investigation of exciplex pumped alkali laser (XPAL) has been conducted. A 4-cm gain cell containing Cs as an
active medium is pumped by a tunable Ti: sapphire pulse laser. Laser oscillation is observed in both five-level and four-level
systems. Small signal gain and saturation intensity of the active medium is measured by both probe laser
amplification and oscillation experiment with varied output coupling. A one-dimensional numerical simulation is
developed and the result of calculations is compared with the experiments. The pulse shape and oscillation threshed
agree reasonably while calculated optical-optical conversion efficiency is underestimated.
We have been studying the Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) Thermal Image Marker System to the far field objects. This system can mark the distinguishable thermal image on the far field objects with the laser beam of the COIL to guide the Imaging Infrared homing air vehicle to the object marked thermal image with pinpoint accuracy. For the development of this system the study of the COIL resonator is the main task to meet the generation of the required high quality laser beam.
Therefore, first we made two kinds of the experiments. One is to generate the distinguishable thermal image mark (TIM) on the object with stable resonator of the 13 kW output COIL system in the near field. Another is to improve the laser beam quality with the unstable resonators of the COIL system in the low gain condition. Then we studied the high power unstable resonator design for this system with the numerical simulation based on its experimental data and the two-dimensional Fresnel-Kirchhoff integration method with partially coherent scalar electric field. Finally we made the numerical far field TIM generation to verify the TIM generation with the laser beam of the studied high power unstable resonator. The result of simulation shows the fine TIM generation.
The result of the experiment and the resonator design study shows that it is possible to realize the good thermal image mark, the good quality laser beam and the promising unstable resonator for the COIL Thermal Image Marker System.
KEYWORDS: Nd:YAG lasers, Chemical oxygen iodine lasers, Laser welding, High power lasers, Continuous wave operation, YAG lasers, Laser systems engineering, Modulation, Laser applications, Chemical lasers
We have constructed a laser welding system, which enabled high-power laser welding by combining three laser beams of 1 µm wavelength. Its wavelength enables optical silica fibers transmission and the flexible system. The heart of this system consists of a 4 kW and a 6 kW Nd:YAG lasers and a 10 kW class Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) beams of 6 kW Nd:YAG laser and COIL are combined in a coaxial beam and its maximum average power is 19 kW. The third laser beam, 4 kW Nd:YAG laser beam, is added obliquely from the same side of workpiece or oppositely from the reverse one. The effects of various welding parameters were investigated, such as the laser power, pulse modulation, and so on. As a result of the welding test with the 6 kW Nd:YAG laser, it was clarified that the pulse wave (PW) has good efficiency of deeper penetration at low welding speed. When the combined beam with CW COIL and PW Nd:YAG laser was used, 20 mm penetration on the stainless steel could be achieved at a welding speed of 1 m/min. By adding the third laser beam, the both side welding on 30mm thickness plate could be achieved.
In the field of heavy industries, many products are made of thick metal parts. Nd:YAG laser has been recently developed up to 10 kW. Nd:YAG laser has the characteristics of the optical fiber transmittance and the good absorption by the metal surface, so that it is expected to apply Nd:YAG laser to thick plate welding. This study presents the thick plate welding with Nd:YAG laser and COIL (Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser). We have developed a coaxial beam combining system with beams of Nd:YAG laser and COIL. The maximum average power of the combined beam was 19 kW. Welding tests of 304 stainless steel plates were carried out. The effects of various welding parameters were investigated, such as the laser power and pulse modulation. As a result, it was clarified that the pulse wave has good efficiency of deeper penetration as compared to continuous wave at low welding speed. When the combined beam was used, 20 mm penetration depth on the stainless steel could be obtained in high aspect ratio at welding speed of 1m/min. When the combined beams and another Nd:YAG laser beam whose power was 4 kW were used, both side welding on 30 mm thickness plate could be achieved.
We have constructed a laser welding system, which enabled high-power laser welding by combining three laser beams of 1 mm wavelength. Its wavelength enables optical silica fibers transmission and the flexible system. The heart of this system consists of a 4 kW and a 6 kW Nd:YAG lasers and a 10 kW Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL). The average power of the combined beam is up to over 20 kW. The effects of various welding parameters were investigated, such as the laser power, pulse modulation, and so on. The 10 kW COIL has a very good beam quality which is 64 mm.mrad. The beam spot diameter is 0.48 mm at the focal point. On the contrary the beam quality of Nd:YAG laser is worse, but it has the function of pulse modulation which the COIL dose not have. As a result of the welding test with the 6 kW Nd:YAG laser, it was clarified that the pulse wave (PW) has good efficiency of deeper penetration at low welding speed. When the combined beam with CW COIL and PW Nd:YAG laser was used, 20 mm penetration on the stainless steel could be achieved at a welding speed of 1 m/min.
The Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) has been studied for military use because it has many excellent features. These features count with not only the military but also the industry. The wavelength of COIL 1.315 mm, is a significant features of the industrial laser because it is located in a minimum loss transmission region for optical silica fibers. Therefore, we started the COIL development for industrial use in 1986. In the first stage, we developed a subsonic type. In 1992, the first 1 kW class commercial COIL was delivered. This system was successfully operated for several hours, and its output beam was delivered through the optical silica fiber of 0.3 mm core diameter. But the subsonic COIL has the disadvantage that the device size is relatively large. To solve this problem, the supersonic COIL has been introduced and developed. In 1994, 1 kW supersonic output power was attained. On the basis of this technology, we constructed a 10 kW class in 1996. This system achieved over 12 kW output power and chemical efficiency of 26 percent.
Iodine molecule was dissociated prior to injection in supersonic Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL). In some cases, output power enhancement was observed. However, the output power was decreased at the optimum titration (iodine/oxygen ratio). A quasi-two dimensional simulation was employed to analyze the effect ofiodine pre-dissociation. It was revealed that the high iodine atom concentration at the plenum is responsible for the power reduction. The method to improve the output power by pre-dissociation is discussed.
The downsizing of Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) was achieved by applying a turbo blower to a high gas pressure operation of a subsonic COIL. The size of the vacuum system was a factor of 3 smaller than that of the existing one. The laser output power of 290 W with chemical efficiency of 17.1% was obtained at the Cl2 flow rate of 18.6 mmol/s and the laser cavity pressure of 6 Torr.
Brief history and present status of the industrial COIL (Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser) studies in Japan are introduced. Up-to-date experimental results obtained by Tokai University group, including high-power subsonic operation, power stabilization, and theoretical works are presented.
KEYWORDS: Oxygen, Chemical lasers, Resonators, Chemical oxygen iodine lasers, Nitrogen, Chlorine, Mirrors, Laser applications, System on a chip, Industrial chemicals
A new concept of energy network system, `optical power system', was proposed. In this system, optical power is generated at a laser facility and it is distributed to users through optical fiber such as electric power system. The authors have started a feasibility study of this concept based on the latest chemical oxygen-iodine laser technology. 23.4% of chemical efficiency was obtained using nitrogen as buffer gas. Buffer gas cooling remarkably increased chemical efficiency. Liquid-jet type singlet oxygen generator (SOG) and twisted aerosol SOG (TA-SOG) were compared with the same setup. TA-SOG showed good performance especially in the high gas flow velocity range.
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