Paper 13341-61
Paper 13341-61
Compact laser beam combiner
28 January 2025 • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST | Moscone West, Room 2003 (Level 2)
Abstract
We report on the development of a compact method of beam combination using a rotating rhomboid prism. The prism is mounted on a motorized rotational stage and sequentially directs the output from multiple parallel resonators into a single beam. Rhomboid prisms are inherently insensitive to misalignment, so the entire system is very compact, stable, and simple to align. The first several iterations were used for combining four Ho:YAG resonators resulting in a system with a 2.13 um output of over 200 watts at 40 Hz. Although the methodology was initially demonstrated with Ho:YAG resonators, it is flexible and may be used for combining different types of lasers including multiple wavelengths.
Presenter
MegaWatt Lasers, Inc. (United States)
Scott Hamlin is the founder and president of MegaWatt Lasers, Inc., with over 40 years of experience in solid-state lasers for military, medical, scientific, and industrial applications. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Scott began his career at General Electric in the Advanced Laser Technology Department and later served as a Research Physicist at Kigre. He joined Laser Technology Associates (LTA) in 1987 to develop high power slab lasers and returned to Kigre as Chief Scientist in 1990. In 1997, Scott established MegaWatt Lasers, initially focusing on military solutions and later transitioning to medical laser products. Today, most MegaWatt Lasers' products are medical or medically oriented. In recent years, the company has prioritized innovation and the development of new research products.