Monolithic Pulse Compressor Assembly for Thermal-Stable Grating Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulse compressors face challenges in achieving high optomechanical stability due to the use of mechanical holders, which are inadequate for the high stretching and compression factors required for generating high pulse energies in CPA technology.
Innovation Solution
A pulse compressor design that utilizes multiple optical components, including a diffraction grating, fastened to a base plate via laser-welded intermediate elements. These elements are chosen for their low thermal expansion coefficients, ensuring minimal thermally induced stresses and enhancing the optomechanical stability of the compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical holders are used to fasten optical components, then ease of assembly and adjustment is improved, but optomechanical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical holders with laser welding to fasten optical components to the base plate. This substitution eliminates the mechanical connection interface that causes instability, achieving both high optomechanical stability and ease of assembly through a streamlined welding process.
2Ease of manufacture
If materials with different thermal expansion coefficients are used for joining, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermally induced stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the thermal expansion principle by selecting materials with matched thermal expansion coefficients for the base plate, intermediate elements, and optical components. This material selection strategy prevents differential thermal expansion during laser welding and operation, eliminating thermally induced stresses while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a base plate, intermediate elements, and optical components all made from materials with matched thermal properties. This composite approach ensures thermal compatibility across the entire assembly, preventing stress generation while allowing straightforward manufacturing of each component.
3Device complexity
If conventional fastening methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to maintain precise alignment under thermal loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical fastening systems with direct laser welding, simplifying the device structure while simultaneously improving alignment precision. The welded connection eliminates mechanical play and thermal expansion mismatches that would compromise alignment, achieving both low complexity and high precision.
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 proposed solution significantly increases the optomechanical stability of the pulse compressor, allowing for higher stretching factors and pulse energy scalings, while preventing thermally induced stresses and maintaining precise alignment of optical components.
Implementation Method 1
A first optical component of the optical components is fastened to base plate by at least first and second intermediate elements that are laser-welded to one another
Implementation Method 2
In the case of grating compressors based on diffraction gratings, the laser light is typically diffracted four times
Data Source
AI summary
A pulse compressor includes a plurality of optical components. The plurality of optical components includes a diffraction grating. A first optical component of the optical components is fastened to base plate by at least first and second intermediate elements that are laser-welded to one another. The first intermediate element is fastened to the base plate and the second intermediate element is fastened to the optical component. A joining surface of the first and second intermediate elements is formed as a bearing recess and another joining surface is curved. At least the laser-welded joining surfaces of the first optical component, the base plate, and the first and second intermediate elements are formed from materials for which a difference in their coefficients of thermal expansion is less than 10e-6/K.