Semi-analytical and 3D CFD DPAL modeling: feasibility of supersonic operation

Salman Rosenwaks; Boris D. Barmashenko; Karol Waichman

doi:10.1117/12.2036744

25 February 2014 Semi-analytical and 3D CFD DPAL modeling: feasibility of supersonic operation

Salman Rosenwaks, Boris D. Barmashenko, Karol Waichman

Proceedings Volume 8962, High Energy/Average Power Lasers and Intense Beam Applications VII; 896209 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2036744
Event: SPIE LASE, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The feasibility of operating diode pumped alkali lasers (DPALs) with supersonic expansion of the gaseous laser mixture, consisting of alkali atoms, He atoms and (frequently) hydrocarbon molecules, is explored. Taking into account fluid dynamics and kinetic processes, both semi-analytical and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of supersonic DPALs is reported. Using the semi-analytical model, the operation of supersonic DPALs is compared with that measured and modeled in subsonic lasers for both Cs and K. The maximum power of supersonic Cs and K lasers is found to be higher than that of subsonic lasers with the same resonator and alkali density at the laser inlet by 25% and 70%, respectively. Using the 3D CFD model, the flow pattern and spatial distributions of the pump and laser intensities in the resonator are calculated for Cs DPALs. Comparison between the semi-analytical and 3D CFD models for Cs shows that the latter predicts much larger maximum achievable laser power than the former. These results indicate that for scaling-up the power of DPALs, supersonic expansion should be considered.

Citation Download Citation

Salman Rosenwaks, Boris D. Barmashenko, and Karol Waichman "Semi-analytical and 3D CFD DPAL modeling: feasibility of supersonic operation", Proc. SPIE 8962, High Energy/Average Power Lasers and Intense Beam Applications VII, 896209 (25 February 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2036744

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available