Keywords

Thin Disk Laser, Laser Simulations

Abstract

High power lasers have been adapted to material processing, energy, military and medical applications. In the Laser Plasma Laboratory at CREOL, UCF, high power lasers are used to produce highly ionized plasmas to generate EUV emission. This thesis examines the quality of a recently acquired high power thin disk laser through thermal modeling and beam parameter measurements. High power lasers suffer from thermally induced issues which degrade their operation. Thin disk lasers use an innovative heat extraction mechanism that eliminates the transverse thermal gradient within the gain medium associated with thermal lensing. A thorough review of current thin disk laser technology is described. Several measurement techniques were performed on a high power thin disk laser. The system efficiencies, spectrum, and temporal characteristics were examined. The laser was characterized in the far-field regime to determine the beam quality and intensity of the laser. Laser cavity simulations of the thin disk laser were performed using LASCAD. The induced thermal and stress effects are demonstrated. Simulated output power and efficiency is compared to those that have been quantified experimentally.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2010

Advisor

Richardson, Martin

Degree

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Degree Program

Electrical Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0003216

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0003216

Language

English

Release Date

August 2014

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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