Title

New Approach To Robust Optics For Hel Systems

Keywords

Diffractive elements; High-energy laser; Photo-thermo-refractive glass; Volume holograms

Abstract

A new material for optics is being developed that promises to be far more robust than alternative materials. It is a photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass in which Bragg gratings (holograms) can be written in the interior (not the surface) of the glass. The gratings are permanent as they are not removed by illuminating them with light at other wavelengths or by heating unless the temperature exceeds 400 C. This technology can be used to make diffractive elements such as spatial filters, attenuators, switches, modulators, beam splitters, beam samplers, beam deflectors, selectors of particular wavelengths (notch filters, add/drop elements), spectral shape formers (gain equalizers), spectral sensors, angular sensors, Bragg spectrometers, and transverse and longitudinal mode selectors in a laser resonator. The PTR Bragg grating has been exposed to a 100 W, 1096 nm beam focused to 100 kW/cm2 spot for 10 minutes without exhibiting any temperature rise. The pulsed laser damage threshold has been measured to be within 30% of that of the best silica glass used in high power 1064 nm systems. The useful spectral range of this glass is from 350 nm to 2.8 microns.

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Publication Title

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

Volume

4724

Number of Pages

101-109

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472367

Socpus ID

0036382651 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0036382651

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