Design of a high-gain laser diode-array pumped Nd:YAG alternating precessive slab amplifier (APS amplifier)

In the design of space-qualifiable laser systems for ranging and altimetry, such as NASA's geodynamic laser ranging system (GLRS), the transmitter must be kept small, powerful yet efficient, and must consist of as few components as possible. The author reports on a unique preamplifier design which satisfies these requirements, and is suitable as the first amplifier stage following a laser, with an output of 1 mJ per pulse. It requires no external beam-steering optics, yielding a compact component with simple alignment procedures. The gains achieved are comparable to multipass zigzag amplifiers using two or more sets of external optics for extra passes through the amplifying medium.<
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