Laser Beam Amplification Device Sealed Space Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The quality of amplified laser beams, including stability and focusing characteristics, is deteriorated due to the flow of cooling media on the main surface of the laser medium in conventional laser beam amplification devices.

Innovation Solution

A laser beam amplification device with a sealed space around the laser medium unit, either under reduced pressure or filled with gas, to prevent interference from the cooling medium, combined with the use of ceramic laser media with high thermal conductivity and multiple laser media layers for enhanced amplification and reduced energy loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling medium flows on the main surface of the laser medium to cool it, then the cooling performance is improved, but the quality of the laser beam (stability and focusing characteristics) is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidlaser beam quality
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The laser medium is divided into multiple segments (first laser medium and second laser medium) with a sealed space between them. This segmentation allows the cooling medium to flow around the segments without directly interfering with the laser beam path, thus maintaining cooling performance while improving beam quality stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful effect of the cooling medium on the laser beam is extracted and eliminated by creating a sealed space between the laser medium segments. The cooling medium flows in the gaps between segments rather than on the main surface, separating the cooling function from the beam transmission path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If multiple laser media are provided to increase amplification factor, then the amplification capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplification factorVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple laser media segments are combined in a modular configuration where each segment can be independently cooled and aligned. The sealed space structure allows these segments to be integrated into a unified amplification system, achieving high amplification factor while managing complexity through standardized modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a sealed space is created between laser media to prevent cooling medium interference, then laser beam stability is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaser beam stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealed space is created only in the specific region between laser media segments where beam transmission occurs, rather than enclosing the entire device. This localized approach provides beam stability where needed while minimizing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution improves the quality of the amplified laser beam by reducing fluctuations and energy loss, enhancing stability and focusing characteristics, and increasing the amplification factor while maintaining effective cooling performance.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling medium flow path is provided around the laser medium unit and cools the laser medium unit from outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the laser medium is excited by making the excitation light enter the laser medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

reduction of energy loss due to Fresnel reflection and occurrence of wavefront distortion can be prevented

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFresnel reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3249764B1Laser beam amplification device
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK
  • EP3249764B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3249764B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3249764B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A laser medium unit 10 in a laser beam amplification device includes a plurality of laser media 14. A cooling medium flow path F1 is provided around the laser medium unit 10 to cool the laser medium unit 10 from outside. A sealed space between the laser media 14 is filled with gas or liquid, and a laser beam for passing through the sealed space is not interfered by a cooling medium flowing outside. Therefore, a fluctuation of an amplified laser beam is prevented, and a quality such as stability and focusing characteristics of the laser beam is improved.