title: 28W average power hydrocarbon-free rubidium diode pumped alkali laser.
abstract: We present experimental results for a high-power diode pumped hydrocarbon-free rubidium laser with a scalable architecture. The laser consists of a liquid cooled, copper waveguide which serves to both guide the pump light and to provide a thermally conductive surface near the gain volume to remove heat. A laser diode stack, with a linewidth narrowed to approximately 0.35 nm with volume bragg gratings, is used to pump the cell. We have achieved 24W average power output using 4 atmospheres of naturally occurring helium ((4)He) as the buffer gas and 28W using 2.8 atmospheres of (3)He.
authors.affiliation: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Livermore, CA 94551, USA. Jason.zweiback@ga.com
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zweiback
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Krupke
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000737:chemistry*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D012413:Rubidium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012413:Rubidium