Alpha high-power chemical laser program

Richard A. Ackerman; David Callahan; Anthony J. Cordi; Henry Lurie; Matthew Thomson

doi:10.1117/12.204938

31 March 1995 Alpha high-power chemical laser program

Richard A. Ackerman, David Callahan, Anthony J. Cordi, Henry Lurie, Matthew Thomson

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Proceedings Volume 2502, Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.204938
Event: Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium, 1994, Friedrichshafen, Germany

Abstract

Alpha is a megawatt-class hydrogen fluoride, continuous wave, space based chemical laser brassboard which demonstrates and validates technology for space-based applications. It consists of a cylindrical gain generator that exhausts radially outward through circumferential nozzles forming an annular lasing media and an annular ring resonator, which extracts the laser energy. Technical innovations first demonstrated on Alpha include: (1) use of extruded aluminum components, (2) diamond turned, annular optics made of molybdenum, (3) uncooled silicon mirrors, (4) light weight optical benches, and (5) active alignment. Alpha first lased in 1989, and has repeatably demonstrated megawatt-class power and excellent beam quality. Using Alpha, TRW has demonstrated the use of low weight uncooled mirrors in very high power lasers to reduce system jitter. They have performed flawlessly and beam jitter levels were significantly reduced.

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Richard A. Ackerman, David Callahan, Anthony J. Cordi, Henry Lurie, and Matthew Thomson "Alpha high-power chemical laser program", Proc. SPIE 2502, Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium, (31 March 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.204938

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