Energy-scavenging amplifiers for miniature solid-state lasers.
Longitudinally pumped miniature lasers are inefficient, partly because of their inefficient absorption of the pump light. Scavenging the unabsorbed pump light to pump an in-line amplifier can greatly enhance the efficiency of the system, with minimal added cost, size, or complexity.
Zayhowski
J J
JJ
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 244 Wood Street, Lexington, Massachusetts 02420, USA. zayhowski@ll.mit.edu
Wilson
A L
AL