Lasers

Abstract

Spectra-Physics has introduced the world's first active beam position control system on its Model 2040E series high-power ion lasers. The system, trademarked BeamLok (TM), provides real-time control of the cavity mirrors to maintain output beam position on a reference point outside the laser cavity. By fixing the beam position on a remote target, this system essentially eliminates warm-up and readjustment requirements of pumped laser systems or complex optical trains, in applications such as Ti: sapphire and dye laser pumping, holography, LDV, or time-resolved spectroscopy. An additional advantage of this system is that the real-time mirror control eliminates cavity length modulation associated with other mirror-dithering active alignment systems. In mode-locked, sync-pumped, or single-frequency configurations this system maintains exceptional cavity length stability and delivers improved performance over unstabilised or dithered-mirror systems. The BeamLok system is offered as an option on all Model 2040E series ion lasers, and is also available as a retrofit kit for all 2040E systems. The ‘E’ series is a new version of the popular Model 2040 and can be upgraded with the BeamLok system at any time. When configured with BeamLok, the Model 2040E guarantees power stability performance of better than ±0.5% from 1 minute to 8 hours of operation, and ±0.3% over any two-hour period. These specifications set new standards for large-frame ion laser performance, and translate to trouble-free, hands-off operation. T1