title: Rubidium vapor laser pumped by two laser diode arrays.
abstract: Scaling of alkali lasers to higher powers requires using multiple diode lasers for pumping. The first (to our knowledge) results of a cw rubidium laser pumped by two laser diode arrays are presented. A slope efficiency of 53%, total optical efficiency of 46%, and output power of 17 W have been demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, US Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, CO, USA. boris.zhdanov.ctr@usafa.edu
authors.forename: Boris V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Zhdanov
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stooke
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boyadjian
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voci
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Knize