Open-loop flow cooling alkali metal vapor laser gain generator

Abstract

The invention discloses an open-loop flow cooling alkali metal vapor laser gain generator, which comprises a buffer gas storage source, a gas pressure and flow control device, a gas purifying device,a gas heating device, a vacuum acquisition and detection device, a mixing chamber and a laser chamber, wherein a buffer gas in the buffer gas storage source is adjusted through the gas pressure and flow control device and then purified through the gas purifying device at required gas pressure and flow; the purified gas is evenly mixed with alkali metal-atom saturated vapor in the mixing chamber and then flows into the laser chamber; the gas is used for controlling temperature in the laser chamber; and the gas which flows out of the laser chamber and carries waste heat is discharged into atmosphere or other gas storage chambers. The open-loop flow cooling alkali metal vapor laser gain generator has the advantages that the system structure is simple and uniform heating and precise temperature control are easy to implement.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention mainly relates to the technical field of lasers, in particular to an open-loop flow heat dissipation alkali metal vapor laser gain generator. Background technique [0002] Diode pumped alkali metal vapor laser (Diode pumped alkali vapor laser, DPAL) is an optically pumped gas laser that uses the saturated vapor of alkali metal atoms as the gain medium and uses the energy level transition of the outer valence electrons to achieve laser action. This type of laser combines the high power output of semiconductor lasers and the advantages of gas medium flow and heat dissipation. It has the characteristics of all-electric operation, light weight and compactness, high quantum efficiency and good atmospheric transmission characteristics. It has high power scaling and amplification capabilities. Aerospace and military fields have potential application value. One of the core technologies of high-power DPAL is to realize the gas-phase gain medium, ...

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Problems solved by technology

[0003] The closed-loop circulating flow DPAL gain generator has advantages in realizing the miniaturization of the laser system, but at the same time there are many technical difficulties and limitations: First, alkali metal atoms have strong chemical reactivity and corrosion, and trace amounts of water, oxygen and organic The presence of oil and gas will consume the alkali metal atoms in the system through chemical reactions, and various non-metallic sealing materials such as rubber rings and polytetrafluoroethylene cannot be used due to the strong corrosion of alkali metal atoms. The power device in the system—the realization of the gas circulation pump puts forward extremely stringent engineering and process requirements. It needs to use corrosion-resistant materials and work in a completely closed and oil-free operation mode. In particular, the impeller rotor of the pump body needs to use oil-free friction bearings. It will greatly affect the continuous operation life of the system; the second is that the saturated vapor pressure of alkali metals (that is, the atomic concentration of alkali metals) depends on the temperature of the cold spot in the circulation system. For a gas circulation pump with an internal structure, it is difficult to achieve uniform heating. Due to the existence of cold spots, the available alkali metal atomic concentration of the system is affected; the third is that for the closed-loop circulation flow structure, refrigeration measures are required to restore the gas gain medium that has passed through the laser gain region to its operating temperature, so additional energy is required The supply increases the total energy consumption of the system; Fourth, under the condition of high buffer air pressure, such as filling 10-20 atm of helium, the power that the gas circulation pump can provide is limited by many factors such as air resistance and bearing speed , its flow rate may not be able to meet the actual power system requirements

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