Library · IAA RAS

Papers

Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser with Wide Temperature Operation Range (–40… +40)°C

A. F. Kornev, Yu. V. Katsev, V. V. Koval, D. O. Oborotov, I. G. Kuchma, V. A. Mitryaev

Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 57, 16–22 (2021)

Keywords: Nd:YAG laser, regenerative amplifier, picosecond pulses, second harmonic generation, wide temperature range, Satellite Laser Ranging

About the paper Full text

Abstract

Picosecond lasers are widely used in various industrial and scientific applications. One of them is high-precision satellite laser ranging. The current state of the art for high-precision satellite laser ranging requires stable and reliable lasers with short pulse duration, high pulse repetition rates, and a high level of resistance to the ambient environment in order to achieve the highest measurement accuracy. Here we report on the development of Nd:YAG laser based on «master oscillator — regenerative amplifier — second harmonic generation» approach and applied for high-precision satellite laser ranging. A picosecond laser diode operating in the gain switch mode is used as a master oscillator. The regenerative amplifier is based on two Nd:YAG rods ⌀6 × 30 mm with diode end pumping. The LBO crystal 5 × 5 × 10 mm with type II phase matching is used as the second harmonic generator. Laser delivers 35 ps pulses at 532 nm wavelength with > 2.5 mJ pulse energy with < 2 % energy stability (RMS). The second-harmonic conversion efficiency was up to 65 %. The pulse repetition rate is 300 Hz (up to 1000 Hz is possible). The beam divergence is 0.3 mrad at $1⁄e^2$ intensity level for a beam diameter at the laser output of 3.4 mm. The main feature of the developed system is the possibility to operate at ambient temperatures from –40°C to +40°C that is achieved by proper thermal management: liquid thermal stabilization of the laser body using a chiller, as well as the use of a system of flexible heaters and multilayer thermal insulation. The laser is installed on the «Sazhen-TM» rangefinder in the observatory «Svetloe». The short pulse duration, high stability of the pulse shape and the pulse energy, as well as the possibility to operate in a wide range of ambient temperatures make this laser a demand tool for high-precision satellite laser ranging.

Citation

Text

BibTeX

RIS

A. F. Kornev, Yu. V. Katsev, V. V. Koval, D. O. Oborotov, I. G. Kuchma, V. A. Mitryaev. Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser with Wide Temperature Operation Range (–40… +40)°C // Transactions of IAA RAS. — 2021. — Issue 57. — P. 16–22.

@article{kornev2021,
  abstract = {Picosecond lasers are widely used in various industrial and scientific applications. One of them is high-precision satellite laser ranging. The current state of the art for high-precision satellite laser ranging requires stable and reliable lasers with short pulse duration, high pulse repetition rates, and a high level of resistance to the ambient environment in order to achieve the highest measurement accuracy.
Here we report on the development of Nd:YAG laser based on «master oscillator — regenerative amplifier — second harmonic generation» approach and applied for high-precision satellite laser ranging. A picosecond laser diode operating in the gain switch mode is used as a master oscillator. The regenerative amplifier is based on two Nd:YAG rods ⌀6 × 30 mm with diode end pumping. The LBO crystal 5 × 5 × 10 mm with type II phase matching is used as the second harmonic generator.
Laser delivers 35 ps pulses at 532 nm wavelength with > 2.5 mJ pulse energy with < 2 % energy stability (RMS). The second-harmonic conversion efficiency was up to 65 %. The pulse repetition rate is 300 Hz (up to 1000 Hz is possible). The beam divergence is 0.3 mrad at $1⁄e^2$ intensity level for a beam diameter at the laser output of 3.4 mm. The main feature of the developed system is the possibility to operate at ambient temperatures from –40°C to +40°C that is achieved by proper thermal management: liquid thermal stabilization of the laser body using a chiller, as well as the use of a system of flexible heaters and multilayer thermal insulation.
The laser is installed on the «Sazhen-TM» rangefinder in the observatory «Svetloe». The short pulse duration, high stability of the pulse shape and the pulse energy, as well as the possibility to operate in a wide range of ambient temperatures make this laser a demand tool for high-precision satellite laser ranging.},
  author = {A.~F. Kornev and Yu.~V. Katsev and V.~V. Koval and D.~O. Oborotov and I.~G. Kuchma and V.~A. Mitryaev},
  doi = {10.32876/ApplAstron.57.16-22},
  issue = {57},
  journal = {Transactions of IAA RAS},
  keyword = {Nd:YAG laser, regenerative amplifier, picosecond pulses, second harmonic generation, wide temperature range, Satellite Laser Ranging},
  pages = {16--22},
  title = {Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser with Wide Temperature Operation Range (–40… +40)°C},
  url = {http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2086/},
  year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser with Wide Temperature Operation Range (–40… +40)°C
AU  - Kornev, A. F.
AU  - Katsev, Yu. V.
AU  - Koval, V. V.
AU  - Oborotov, D. O.
AU  - Kuchma, I. G.
AU  - Mitryaev, V. A.
PY  - 2021
T2  - Transactions of IAA RAS
IS  - 57
SP  - 16
AB  - Picosecond lasers are widely used in various industrial and
scientific applications. One of them is high-precision satellite
laser ranging. The current state of the art for high-precision
satellite laser ranging requires stable and reliable lasers with
short pulse duration, high pulse repetition rates, and a high level
of resistance to the ambient environment in order to achieve the
highest measurement accuracy.  Here we report on the development of
Nd:YAG laser based on «master oscillator — regenerative amplifier —
second harmonic generation» approach and applied for high-precision
satellite laser ranging. A picosecond laser diode operating in the
gain switch mode is used as a master oscillator. The regenerative
amplifier is based on two Nd:YAG rods ⌀6 × 30 mm with diode end
pumping. The LBO crystal 5 × 5 × 10 mm with type II phase matching is
used as the second harmonic generator.  Laser delivers 35 ps pulses
at 532 nm wavelength with > 2.5 mJ pulse energy with < 2 % energy
stability (RMS). The second-harmonic conversion efficiency was up to
65 %. The pulse repetition rate is 300 Hz (up to 1000 Hz is
possible). The beam divergence is 0.3 mrad at $1⁄e^2$ intensity level
for a beam diameter at the laser output of 3.4 mm. The main feature
of the developed system is the possibility to operate at ambient
temperatures from –40°C to +40°C that is achieved by proper thermal
management: liquid thermal stabilization of the laser body using a
chiller, as well as the use of a system of flexible heaters and
multilayer thermal insulation.  The laser is installed on the
«Sazhen-TM» rangefinder in the observatory «Svetloe». The short pulse
duration, high stability of the pulse shape and the pulse energy, as
well as the possibility to operate in a wide range of ambient
temperatures make this laser a demand tool for high-precision
satellite laser ranging.
DO  - 10.32876/ApplAstron.57.16-22
UR  - http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2086/
ER  -