RU2622237C1 - Laser head of solid-state laser with diode pumping - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: laser head contains an active element in the form of a rod, optical pumping sources arranged on the holders around the active element, a cooling system of the active element and the optical pumping sources, flanges, and an element connecting the flanges. The holders are arranged in the aligned holes of the flanges, the cooling system comprises a tube enclosing the active element to form a radial clearance, an input and an output collectors, and channels of the holders. The element connecting the flanges, is formed as a frame comprising parallel plates connected by the ribs. The holders are fitted with the limiters made on both sides, interacting with the end faces of the flanges, one limiter of each holder is formed with a groove interacting with an eccentric, the eccentrics are mounted in the holes of one of the flanges.

EFFECT: providing the opportunities to increase power and efficiency, improving the design manufacturability.

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Description

The invention relates to diode-pumped solid-state lasers, in particular to structural elements and cooling systems, and can be used in the manufacture of laser technology.

Known is the quantron of a solid-state diode-pumped laser (TTLDN), consisting of a rod located in the active element (AE) body, optical pump sources (ION) in the form of rulers of laser diodes located on the holders, and a cooling system (CO) containing a tube covering AE with the formation of a radial gap (RE), and channels located in the housing and holders, with inlet and outlet nozzles. IONs are located at an angle of 90 ° to the axis of the AE (US patent No. 6101208, H01S 3/0941, publ. 1997).

In this device, the cooling of the AE and ION occurs due to the high flow rate of the coolant (coolant). Maintaining a constant coolant temperature allows you to extend the life of the ION and provide constant and stable output parameters of the quantron.

However, uneven and incomplete filling of the AE pump radiation leads to the formation of inhomogeneous excitation regions and the appearance of thermomechanical stresses inside the AE. The cooling channels are located at a considerable distance from the ION, which leads to a decrease in the efficiency of heat removal from the heated surface of the ION. All this can lead to a decrease in power and efficiency of the device. In addition, the quantron has a complex design, as well as a large number of hydraulic connections and CO channels, which reduces its manufacturability and reliability.

The closest analogue of the claimed invention, selected as a prototype, is the TTLDN quantron, which contains AEs in the form of a rod, IONs located on holders around the AEs and facing it with a radiating region, CO AEs and IONs, flanges and an element connecting the flanges, the holders are located in the coaxial holes of the flanges, the CO contains a tube covering the AE with the formation of RE, as well as input and output manifolds made in the flanges and channels of the holders. The collectors are connected to the RE, AE and the tube is fixed in the flanges. Grooves are made in the flanges, the holders are installed through seals (US patent No. 6026109, Н01S 3/02, 3/042, publ. 2000).

The element connecting the flanges is made in the form of two tubular ribs and the base. The tube is fixed in the flanges by means of a radial seal without pressure. The input and output collectors of complex shape (close to triangular) are formed by covers and flanges. The inlet and outlet manifolds are connected to the RE using narrowing annular gaps between the flanges and the covers. The channels of the holders are connected to the inlet and outlet headers through channels in the flanges and channels between the holder and the flange. The holes of the flanges for the holders are made stepwise, the mechanical seal of the holders is applied.

The use of laser diode arrays as ion arrays and their uniform distribution around the AE makes it possible to uniformly fill the AE with pump radiation, which reduces thermal stresses in it and also increases the pump efficiency. The use of a simple channel scheme of the CO ION and AE can simply and efficiently maintain the optimum temperature of the quantron elements.

However, the use of the base and tubular ribs complicates the design and makes it heavier. Moreover, with a large number of holders, access to the ION from the base will be difficult. The tube mounting unit requires high precision manufacturing of both the tube itself and its fixing and sealing elements. Collectors have a complex shape. The presence of many transition channels between the channels of the holders and collectors can lead to an increase in the hydraulic resistance of CO and to a decrease in the efficiency of the quantron. Ensuring reliable fixation of the group of holders and their sealing with the mechanical seal in the stepped holes of the flanges will require very high precision manufacturing of structural elements, or the reliability of the sealing will be low. In a number of cases (small diameter AEs, coated with IONs, the use of ROs with a mirror coating with narrow slots for introducing pump radiation), high accuracy of ION positioning will be required, which in this case is possible only due to the high accuracy of parts manufacturing, ION mounting and quantron assembly. With a decrease in accuracy, a decrease in the energy stored in the inverse population is possible and, as a consequence, a decrease in the power and efficiency of the quantron.

The problem to which the invention is directed is to increase power and efficiency, as well as to increase the manufacturability of the structure.

The technical result obtained by using the proposed technical solution is to increase the efficiency of CO, increase the energy stored in the inverse population, and optimize the design.

The indicated technical result is achieved by the fact that in the quantron of a solid-state laser with a diode pump containing an active element in the form of a rod, optical pump sources located on holders around the active element and facing it with a radiating region, a cooling system for the active element and optical pump sources, flanges and an element connecting the flanges, while the holders are located in the coaxial holes of the flanges, the cooling system includes a tube covering the active element with the formation of a radial of the clearance, the input, output manifolds made in the flanges and the channels of the holders, the collectors are connected to the radial clearance, the active element and the tube are fixed in the flanges, the holders are installed through seals, according to the invention, the element connecting the flanges is made in the form of a frame containing parallel plates connected by ribs, the tube is fixed by clamps, the cooling system is equipped with inlet and outlet nozzles mounted on flanges connected to inlet and outlet manifolds formed by clamps and flanges and, and clamping channels that connect the inlet and outlet manifolds with a radial clearance, the channels of the holders are connected to the inlet and outlet manifolds, the holders are equipped with stops made on both sides, interacting with the end surfaces of the flanges, one of the stops of each holder is made with a groove interacting with eccentric, eccentrics are installed in the holes of one of the flanges, the coaxial holes of the flanges are made through, the seals of the holders are made radial.

The use of a spatial frame, consisting of parallel plates with ribs as an element on which the quantron is assembled in a single design, provides ease of assembly of the quantron. Moreover, the configuration of the frame (in particular, the location of the ribs) provides free access to them for electrical installation and diagnostics.

The use of holders with stops, as well as the sealing of the holders with radial rings in the through holes of the flanges and the fastening of the tube in the clamps, reduced the requirements for the accuracy of manufacturing parts of the quantron. It also increased the reliability of fastening elements (especially tubes) and hydraulic connections.

The use of holders with the ability to adjust the angular position using grooves and eccentrics, as well as the configuration of the frame allows you to arrange and orient the holders with ION relative to the AE in the most optimal way, which leads to an increase in the energy stored in the inverse population.

Along with this, the use of nozzles in the CO, the direct connection of the channels of the holders with the collectors, as well as the location and configuration of the CO elements described above, led to a decrease in the hydraulic resistance of the quantron.

In addition, the connection of the RE with the collectors by means of holes in the clip made it possible to correctly distribute the coolant flows between the cooling channels of the AE and ION, while allowing the manufacture of the remaining elements of the CO with less accuracy.

All this increased the efficiency of the quantron CO, increased the energy stored in the inverse population and simplified its design. And thus, it was possible to solve the problem of increasing the power and efficiency of the quantron, as well as to increase the manufacturability of the design.

When conducting analysis of the prior art, including a search by patent and scientific and technical sources of information, and identifying sources containing information about analogues of the claimed invention, no analogues were found that are characterized by features that are identical to all the essential features of this invention. The definition from the list of identified analogues of the prototype, as the closest in the set of essential features of the analogue, allowed to identify the set of essential distinguishing features from the prototype set forth in the claims.

Therefore, the claimed invention meets the condition of "novelty."

To verify the conformity of the claimed invention with the condition "inventive step", the applicant conducted an additional search for known solutions in order to identify signs that match the distinctive features of the claimed device from the prototype. As a result of the search, no technical solutions with these characteristics were identified. On this basis, we can conclude that the claimed invention meets the condition of "inventive step".

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of a quantron.

In FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a quantron.

In FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a quantron.

In FIG. 4 shows a general view of the frame.

In FIG. 5 shows a general view of a flange with grooves.

In FIG. 6 is a general view of an ION holder.

In FIG. 7 is a general view of the eccentric.

The quantron TTLDN (Fig. 1-3) consists of a frame 1 (Fig. 4), a flange 2, a flange 3 (Fig. 5), inlet and outlet pipes 4, holders 5 (Fig. 6), ION 6, tubes 7, the clamps 8, the active element 9, the clamps 10, the cam 11. The frame 1, which is a rigid structure in the form of parallel plates 12 connected by ribs 13, serves to connect the flanges 2, 3.

The inlet and outlet nozzles 4, tube 7 together with the inlet outlet manifolds a and channels b, c, d form CO quantron (CO AE and ION).

The inlet and outlet nozzles 4 are located on the flanges 2, 3. In the flanges 2, 3, the tube 7 is fixed by clamps 8 using gaskets 14. The tube 7 is made of a material transparent for pump radiation (glass, sapphire, etc.). Flanges 2, 3 and clamps 8 form the input and output collectors a. Clips 8 contain channels located in a circle b. Inside the tube 7, coaxially with it, is located AE 9, which is fixed in the flanges 2, 3 with clamps 8, 10 by means of gaskets 15. Between the outer surface of the AE 9 and the inner surface of the tube 7 is formed RE s. As AE, a rod made of YAG: Nd or other solid laser material can be used. In the flanges 2, 3 there are groups of holes 16 aligned to each other to accommodate the holders 5, on which the ion 6 is placed. The holders 5 contain cooling channels d. As ION 6, semiconductor (including laser) diodes, arrays, arrays (including those with lenses mounted on them) can be used. The holders 5 are located around the AE 9, and the emitting region of the ION 6 is directed towards the AE 9. To seal the connection of the flanges 2, 3 and the holders 5, radial seals based on the ring gaskets 17 are used. To prevent the movement of the holders 5 relative to the flanges 2, 3, the holders equipped with stops 18, 19, which interact with the flanges 2, 3. To adjust the angular position of the holders 5 with ION 6, eccentrics 11 are installed in the cylindrical holes 20 of the flange 3, interacting with the grooves 21 of the stops 19. For simple th and reliable protection of ION 6 from environmental influences, the quantron can be closed by removable panels 22 mounted on frame 1.

The device operates as follows.

When the supply voltage is applied, ION 6 begin to generate pump radiation, which is absorbed by AE 9. At the same time, heat is generated in AE 9 and ION 6, and liquid CO is used to remove it. The coolant is supplied to the quantron through the inlet pipe 4 (for example, to the left in Fig. 2) and enters the input manifold a, where it is divided into cooling flows AE 9 and ION 6.

To cool the AE 9, the coolant from the inlet collector a passes through the channels b of the clamps 8 of the tube into the RE s. After passing along the surface of the AE 9 and cooling it, the coolant enters through the channels b of the clamps 8 into the output collector a, from where it is removed from the quantron through the output pipe 4.

ION 6 is cooled as follows: the coolant from the input manifold a enters the channels of the holders d, which are in thermal contact with ION 6. Having passed through the channels of the holders d and cool the ION 6, the coolant enters the output manifold a , from where it is removed from the quantron through the outlet pipe 4 .

Thus, the data presented indicate that when using the claimed invention, the following combination of conditions:

- a tool embodying the claimed device in its implementation, is intended for use in the laser and optical-mechanical industry in the manufacture of devices for medicine, technology and other purposes;

- for the claimed device in the form in which it is described in the claims, the possibility of its implementation is confirmed.

Therefore, the claimed invention meets the condition of "industrial applicability".

Claims (1)

The quantron of a diode-pumped solid-state laser contains an active element in the form of a rod, optical pump sources located on holders around the active element and facing it with a radiating region, a cooling system for the active element and optical pump sources, flanges and an element connecting the flanges, the holders are located in coaxial the holes of the flanges, the cooling system contains a tube covering the active element with the formation of a radial clearance, the input, output manifolds made in the flanges, and the channel holders, the collectors are connected with a radial clearance, the active element and the tube are fixed in the flanges, the holders are installed through seals, characterized in that the element connecting the flanges is made in the form of a frame containing parallel plates connected by ribs, the tube is fixed by clamps, the cooling system is equipped inlet and outlet nozzles mounted on flanges connected to inlet and outlet manifolds formed by clamps and flanges and clamp channels that connect the inlet and outlet manifolds with a radial clearance, the channels of the holders are connected to the inlet and outlet manifolds, the holders are equipped with stops made on both sides interacting with the end surfaces of the flanges, one of the stops of each holder is made with a groove interacting with the eccentric, the eccentrics are installed in the holes of one of the flanges, the coaxial holes flanges are made through; holders seals are made radial.

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