title: Active-mirror-laser-amplifier thermal management with tunable helium pressure at cryogenic temperatures.
abstract: We illustrate the benefits of a thin, low pressure helium cell for efficient and safe heat removal in cryogenically-cooled active mirror laser amplifiers operating in the [100 J-1 kJ]/[1-10 Hz] range. A homogeneous gain medium temperature distribution averaging 160 K is obtained with a sub-mm helium-filled gap between the gain medium and a copper plate at 77 K. A significant degree of flexibility for tuning the temperature in the amplifier can be achieved by varying the pressure of the helium gas in the 10(2) to 10(5) Pa range.
authors.affiliation: LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, CEA, UPMC; Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France. antonio.lucianetti@polytechnique.edu
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucianetti
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albach
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chanteloup
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006371:Helium / Q000737:chemistry*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013816:Thermodynamics; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium; D006371:Helium; D015018:Ytterbium