Fluid Edge Cladding With Coolant Absorption for ASE Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power lasers face issues with amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and waste heat, which lead to thermal lensing, mechanical stresses, and potential thermal fracture in cooling systems, limiting the average power and repetition rate of laser amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
A coolant fluid system that absorbs ASE and waste heat, using a housing with a solid matrix doped with samarium or copper, allowing for efficient heat removal and reducing thermal load on the flow tube, thereby preventing catastrophic damage and enabling higher average power operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If flow tubes doped with ASE absorber ions are used to provide edge cladding functionality, then ASE absorption is improved, but thermal loading increases leading to potential thermal fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ASE absorption function from the flow tube wall and relocates it to discrete absorber elements (such as rods or blocks) positioned within the flow tube. This allows the flow tube wall itself to be made of thermally conductive material that can efficiently remove heat, while the absorber elements handle the ASE absorption. The absorber elements can be replaced if they become thermally loaded, preventing catastrophic failure of the entire cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ASE absorption function from the cooling function by using separate components: absorber elements for ASE absorption and the flow tube for cooling. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the flow tube for thermal management and the absorber elements for ASE absorption - thereby resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
2Power
If amplifier size increases to provide energy storage and aperture scaling, then laser power is improved, but ASE problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces absorber elements as intermediary components within the flow tube that specifically target and absorb ASE photons before they can cause harmful effects. These absorber elements act as a mediator between the gain medium and the environment, capturing the harmful ASE radiation while allowing the main laser beam to pass through unaffected. This enables high-power operation without the detrimental effects of ASE.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively absorbs ASE and waste heat, preventing thermal fracture and allowing for higher average power and repetition rates in laser amplifiers, while maintaining the integrity of the amplifier components.
Implementation Method 1
a housing that at least partially surrounds the gain medium and holds a coolant fluid able to absorb the second wavelength or range of wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
Large amplifiers generate substantial waste heat. Unless removed, this waste heat can be deposited into the gain medium where it can be responsible for thermal lensing, mechanical stresses, depolarization, degradation of beam quality (BQ), loss of laser power, or thermal fracture.
Implementation Method 3
amplifiers have commonly been cooled using flow tubes that circulate a cooling gas or fluid around the amplifier gain medium
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a laser amplifier includes a light pump source that can generate light at a first wavelength or range of wavelengths. The laser amplifier further includes an optically pumped laser amplifier having a gain medium that amplifies light at a second wavelength or range of wavelengths in response to receiving generated light from the light pump source. A housing is used to at least partially surround the gain medium and hold a coolant fluid able to absorb the second wavelength or range of wavelengths.