| Laser Component |
Purpose |
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| Oscillator |
Produce a low power high precision pulse which is to be further amplified in a separate power amplifier.
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The oscillator is often separated from the power amplifier with an optical isolator.
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| Optical Isolator |
Prevent damage from parasitic feedback from higher power stages back into lower power amplification stages.
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The isolator is often implemented as an optical diode which only allows the beam to travel in one direction.
The isolator prevents unwanted beam leakage backwards into the more fragile lower power components.
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| Stretcher
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Decrease the intensity of a laser pulse by stretching it in time.
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A pulse stretcher is part of a Chirped Pulse Amplification system (CPA).
It usually consists of a pair of gratings placed after the master oscillator.
A stretcher converts a short pulse of the order of femtoseconds into a long pulse of the order of
picoseconds.
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| Power Amplifier |
Amplify a weak pulse and produce very high power pulse while maintaining the initial
characteristics of the initial pulse.
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Many power amplifiers are single pass, however most of the newer designs support multiple passes.
Separate power amplifier modules can be chained together and are separated by vacuum spatial filters.
As the beam intensity grows after successive stages of power amplifiers, the beam diameter must be increased to maintain optimum energy extraction
fluence.
The beam is often enlarged in spatial filters.
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| Spatial Filter |
To remove wavefront distortions by focusing the beam through a pinhole.
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Usually consists of a vacuum chamber with a pinhole placed between two lenses.
The first lens focuses a parallel beam onto a pinhole, the second lens re-collimates the beam, possibly expanding it.
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| Compressor |
Increase the power of a laser pulse by compressing it in time.
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A pulse compressor is part of a Chirped Pulse Amplification system (CPA).
It usually consists of a pair of gratings placed within the target chamber.
A compressor converts a long pulse of the order of picoseconds into a pulse of the order of
femtoseconds.
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| |
| Target Chamber |
Provide a gas-free environment in which the laser pulse can be focused onto a target.
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The target chamber has many portholes which can be used for beam input/output or modular diagnostic equipment.
The target chamber usually supports a high vacuum but can sometimes be pressurized with a buffer gas. |
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| Experiments |
To perform an experiment requires some form of diagnostic instrumentation to analyze results.
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These components usually attach to the target chamber and are often custom built for the laser on which they are used. |
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| Schematics |
A document describing laser component layout.
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Schematics consist of block diagrams or blueprints.
Many schematics are active image maps on which you can click the mouse and obtain more detailed
information about a particular part of the laser.
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