Thermal birefringence and depolarization compensation in glass-based high-average-power laser systems

Amber L. Bullington; Steven B. Sutton; Andy J. Bayramian; John A. Caird; Robert J. Deri; Al C. Erlandson; Mark A. Henesian

doi:10.1117/12.876531

18 February 2011 Thermal birefringence and depolarization compensation in glass-based high-average-power laser systems

Amber L. Bullington, Steven B. Sutton, Andy J. Bayramian, John A. Caird, Robert J. Deri, Al C. Erlandson, Mark A. Henesian

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7916, High Power Lasers for Fusion Research; 79160V (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.876531
Event: SPIE LASE, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Thermally induced birefringence can degrade the beam quality in high-average-power laser systems with doped-glass substrates. In this work, we compare glass-laser slab amplifiers at either Brewster's angle or normal incidence and discuss trade-offs between both designs. Numerical simulations show the impact of thermally induced depolarization in both amplifier systems. A non-uniform temperature profile and the resultant mechanical stress leads to depolarization that worsens as the beam propagates through the slab-amplifier chain. Reflective losses for depolarized light at Brewster's angle cannot be compensated and degrade beam quality. This motivates the selection of normally incident slab amplifiers, which facilitates birefringence compensation. Tolerances for birefringence compensation of two matched normal-incidence glass-slab amplifiers balanced by a quartz rotator are also investigated. Imbalances in thermal load, relative amplifier position and beam magnification between amplifiers show the highest depolarization sensitivity and establish limits for manufacturing tolerances and amplifier design.

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Amber L. Bullington, Steven B. Sutton, Andy J. Bayramian, John A. Caird, Robert J. Deri, Al C. Erlandson, and Mark A. Henesian "Thermal birefringence and depolarization compensation in glass-based high-average-power laser systems", Proc. SPIE 7916, High Power Lasers for Fusion Research, 79160V (18 February 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.876531

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