Diffractive Optical Elements for Efficient Laser Cavities

To meet the Air Force need for a high-quality, high-efficiency, robust diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs) that can be used in VECSEL cavities in place of external bulk mirrors, Luminit, LLC, is developing a novel Computer Generated Hologram (CGH) based Improved VECSEL Cavity (CIVC) using Luminits cascaded computer designed diffractive elements, a new concept that has already been proved and published. The CIVC uses CGH technology to provide both a quality beam by shaping modes inherently and control over output with a beam shaper function. The addition of CGH(s) will enhance the performance merits, as imposed by the user. Thus, CIVC will be an innovative high-power laser cavity design, using combination of new algorithms on diffractive optics field and with significantly reduced SWAP. In Phase I, Luminit proved the principle of the CIVC with an elobrated software, also built test and fabrication benches for holograms and open cavity lasers. During Phase II, Luminit plans to first implement open laser cavity experiments then mount the CIVC to a semiconductor laser chip up to TRL 6-7 and develop a transition plan leading to limited rate production soon afterwards.