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Results for “LASER MIRRORS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Thermal behavior characterization of a kilowatt-power-level cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG active mirror laser amplifier

We present an analysis of the thermal behavior of a high-energy kilowatt-average-power diode-pumped cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG active mirror laser amplifier based on measurements and simulations. Maps of the temperature distribution of the laser material at pump powers up to 1 kW were obtained for the first time by spatially and spectrally resolving the fluorescence induced by a scanning probe beam. The wavefront distortion resulting from the front surface deformation and the overall deformation of the gain medium assembly were measured using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The measured deformations agree well with the results of thermomechanical modeling using finite element method simulations, and with the results of focal length shift measurements. The relative contributions to the optical path difference (OPD) of the mechanical deformations, refractive index changes, and electronic contribution are discussed. We propose that the Cr 4+ :YAG cladding plays a significant role in both the temperature distribution and the overall OPD changes. Moreover, the pump-induced mechanical deformations of the assembly dominate the OPD changes in this kilowatt-average-pump-power cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG active mirror laser.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1997

Angular Alignment Testing of Laser Mirror Mounts Under Temperature Cycling

A number of commercial and custom-built laser mirror mounts were tested for angular alignment sensitivity during temperature cycling from room temperature (20 C) to 40 C. A Nd:YAG laser beam was reflected off a mirror that was held by the mount under test and was directed to a position-sensitive detector. Horizontal and vertical movement of the reflected beam was recorded, and the angular movement, as a function of temperature (coefficient of thermal tilt (CTT)) was calculated from these data. In addition, the amount of hysteresis in the movement after cycling from room temperature to 40 C and back was determined. All commercial mounts showed greater angular movement than the simpler National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (NASA LASE) custom mirror mounts.

Bullock, K. T.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A high resolution, adjustable, lockable laser mirror mount

A prototype high resolution, adjustable, lockable mirror mount is described, suitable for use as a resonator end mirror mount in fieldable lasers. The prototype was vibrated to 15g levels, 10-2000 Hz, and was shown to be stable to within 1 arc second and settable to an accuracy of 10 arc seconds. Improvements to be made to the prototype are outlined which will significantly improve the accuracy without sacrificing the other attributes of the prototype.

Chadwick, C. H.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Thomson scattering measurements on DIII-D using in-vessel laser mirrors and lenses to diagnose a new divertor location

Translatable in-vessel mirrors have allowed the DIII-D Thomson scattering system to diagnose the divertor plasma in high triangularity shaped plasmas. Previous divertor Thomson scattering measurements in DIII-D were restricted to spatial locations along a Nd:YAG laser beam that was directed through a vertical port. This only allowed measurements to be made in low triangularity shaped plasmas. The new mirrors re-route the laser underneath floor tiles to a position of smaller major radius as necessary for high triangularity plasmas. New in-vessel collection optics transmit scattered light from regions inaccessible to external lenses. Damage to mirrors and high stray light levels are challenges that were overcome to successfully make these measurements. Through the careful use of baffles and light shields, stray light leakage into polychromator detector channels was reduced to negligible levels, allowing temperature measurements below 1 eV. The system is described and the initial results introduced.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

355-nm, nanosecond laser mirror thin film damage competition

Here, this competition aimed to survey state-of-the-art UV high reflectors. The requirements of the coatings are a minimum reflection of 99.5% at 45 degrees incidence angle for P-polarized light at 355-nm. The choice of coating materials, design, and deposition method were left to the participants. Laser damage testing was performed at a single testing facility using the raster scan method with a 5-ns pulse length laser system operating at 10 Hz in a single longitudinal mode. A double blind test assured sample and submitter anonymity. Finally, in addition to the laser damage resistance results, details of the deposition processes, cleaning method, coating materials and layer count are also shared.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Laser induced damage in coatings for cryogenic Yb:YAG active mirror amplifiers

We report results of a study of the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) behavior of ion beam sputtered H f O 2 / S i O 2 multilayer coatings on Yb:YAG using 1-on-1 and N-on-1 test protocols. The tests were conducted at ambient, vacuum, and cryogenic conditions using 280 ps pulses at λ <#comment/> = 1030 n m . The 1-on-1 LIDT of antireflection (AR) stacks is found to be only slightly reduced under vacuum and cryogenic conditions, while that of high reflectivity (HR) stacks is insensitive to environmental conditions within the uncertainty of the measurements. Cryogenic N-on-1 tests show the LIDT of the HR coating is almost the same as in the 1-on-1 tests. Conversely, the cryogenic N-on-1 test of the AR coating shows damage at ∼ <#comment/> 13 J / c m 2 , a fluence lower than the 20.4 J / c m 2 of 1-on-1 tests. The AR damage behavior is found to be affected by imperfections at the Yb:YAG surface. These findings show that high surface quality is required to increase energy extraction from active mirror laser amplifiers.

Wang, Hanchen↗
NASA NTRS1988

A twin-mirrored galvanometer laser light sheet generator

A galvanometer mirror-based laser light sheet system has been developed for use in the Basic Aerodynamics Research Tunnel at NASA Langley. This system generates and positions single or multiple light sheets over aeronautical research models being tested in the low speed tunnel. This report describes a twin mirrored galvanometer laser light sheet generator and shows typical light sheet arrangements in use. With this system, illumination of smoke entrained in the flow over a delta wing model reveals the vortical flow produced by the separation of the flow at the leading edge of the model. The light sheet system has proven to be very adaptable and easy to use in sizing and positioning light sheets in wind tunnel applications.

Rhodes, David B.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Actuation of Deformable Mirrors Using Laser Controlled Pistons

Current deformable mirrors used for adaptive optics employ many actuators to adjust the mirror in order to compensate for optical irregularities. These mechanical actuators, which can number in the hundreds for a given mirror, require a significant amount of electrical wires in order to be controlled. The objective of this research is to implement a different type of actuator that can be controlled without the use of wires. The actuator developed employs a laser to quickly heat and expand the air in a closed 'cell'. When the air expands, it pushes a membrane that causes the mirror to move. Creating an array of these cells, and scanning them with a laser can control a deformable mirror. Testing showed that a single cell with a 5 mm diameter and 10 mm in length can deflect a membrane of aluminized Mylar in excess of our minimum requirement of 20 microns. These cells can now be assembled in a 5 x 5 matrix and attached to many small mirrors. An electro-mechanical scanning assembly can be used to aim the laser directly onto individual cells causing the mirror at that location to move.

deformable mirrors↗
NASA NTRS2005

Actuation of Deformable Mirrors Using Laser Controlled Pistons

Current deformable mirrors used for adaptive optics employ many actuators to adjust the mirror in order to compensate for optical irregularities. These mechanical actuators, which can number in the hundreds for a given mirror, require a significant amount of electrical wires in order to be controlled. The objective of this research is to implement a different type of actuator that can be controlled without the use of wires. The actuator developed employs a laser to quickly heat and expand the air in a closed "cell." When the air expands, it pushes a membrane that causes the mirror to move. Creating an array of these cells, and scanning them with a laser can control a deformable mirror. Testing showed that a single cell with a 5-mm diameter and 10-mm length can deflect a membrane of aluminized mylar in excess of our minimum requirement of 20 microns. These cells can now be assembled in a 5x5 matrix and attached to many small Mirrors. An electro-mechanical scanning assembly can be used to aim the laser directly onto individual cells causing the mirror at that location to move.

Scott, Charles E.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Additive mode locking based on a nonlinear loop mirror ring laser

We present an experimental demonstration of additive pulse mode locking based on a nonlinear loop mirror ring laser. The proposed design uses nonlinear phase shifts induced by a loop mirror. The results show that interference between two overlapping pulses from two coupled fibres, containing a nonlinear medium for power-dependent phase modulation, leads to pulse compression, and can provide mode locking with different repetition rates depending on the interplay or combination between the modulated frequency (active mode locking) and the nonlinearity (passive mode locking) generated in the loop mirror.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1974

Heat Pipe Technology: A bibliography with abstracts

This bibliography lists 149 references with abstracts and 47 patents dealing with applications of heat pipe technology. Topics covered include: heat exchangers for heat recovery; electrical and electronic equipment cooling; temperature control of spacecraft; cryosurgery; cryogenic, cooling; nuclear reactor heat transfer; solar collectors; laser mirror cooling; laser vapor cavitites; cooling of permafrost; snow melting; thermal diodes variable conductance; artery gas venting; and venting; and gravity assisted pipes.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Two-mirrored galvanometer laser light sheet generator

Light sheets generated with either laser or noncoherent sources have found widespread application to flow visualization. Previous light sheet generating systems were usually dedicated to a specific viewing geometry. The technique with the most flexibility is the galvanometer mirror based laser light sheet system. A two-mirrored system was designed and developed to provide flexibility and adaptability to a wide range of applications. The design includes the capability to control the size and location of the laser light sheet in real time, to generate horizontal or vertical sheets, to sweep the sheet repeatedly through a volume, to generate multiple sheets with controllable separation and to rotate single or multiple laser light sheets. The system is capable of producing up to 12 sheets of laser light at an angular divergence of + or - 20 degrees. Maximum scan rate of any one line is 500 Hertz. This system has proven to be uniquely versatile and a patent has been applied for.

Leighty, B. D.↗