Tm-Doped Ceramic Laser for Laser Accelerator Applications

76142-High power, high wall-plug efficiency, mass producible, reliable and low-cost lasers with wavelength of 2 to 2.5?m are needed for laser accelerator with Si optics. The technology would benefit the DOE¿s High Energy Physics program. The objective of this project is to develop a novel Tm-doped ceramic laser material and a diode-pumped solid-state laser that operates at 2 ?m. In Phase I, Tm-doped ceramic laser materials will be developed via pseudo-reaction-sintering. Then, a longitudinally-pumped, solid state, Tm-doped ceramic diode laser will be designed for demonstration. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The Tm ceramic laser should find use in both defense and civilian applications, including coherent laser radar, remote wind sensing, remote sensing of ¿smart dust¿, trans-canopy ranging, stand-off coherent laser inspection of laminated-composite aircraft components, materials processing, ultrafast laser machining, medical therapeutics, entertainment, image recording, and remote sensing.