We demonstrate the generation of a highly polarized soft-x-ray beam with a compact high-repetition-rate tabletop soft-x-ray laser. The radiation emitted by a high-average-power discharge-pumped tabletop Ne-like Ar soft-x-ray laser operating at 46.9 nm was polarized with a pair of Si/Sc multilayer mirrors designed for 45° operation. A degree of polarization greater than 0.96 was obtained. The po...

We present the experimental demonstration of a novel class of hybrid III-V-on-silicon microlasers. We show that by coupling a silicon cavity to a III-V waveguide, the interaction between the propagating mode in the III-V waveguide and the cavity mode in the silicon resonator results in high, narrowband reflection back into the III-V waveguide, forming a so-called resonant mirror. By combining t...

To date, high-power scaling of Tm:fiber lasers has been accomplished by maximizing the power from a single fiber aperture. In this work, we investigate power scaling by spectral beam combination of three linearly polarized Tm:fiber MOPA lasers using dielectric mirrors with a steep transition from highly reflective to highly transmissive that enable a minimum wavelength separation of 6 nm betwee...

Is the Department of Defense (DOD) pursuing the correct investment strategy for space-based laser weapons? Recent advances in lasers, optics, and spacecraft technologies may bring high-energy laser weapons to a sufficient level of maturity for serious consideration as space weapons against the theater ballistic missile threat. However, these technological advances also make other architectures ...

Heating of mirrors and windows by high-power radiation from a laser transmitter produces turbulent density gradients in the gas near the optical surfaces. If the gradients are left uncontrolled, the resulting phase errors reduce the intensity on the target and degrade the signal returned to a receiver. Beam path conditioning maximizes the efficiency of the optical system by alleviating thermal ...

Adjustable narrow band holographic reflective filter with the absolute diffraction efficiency about 95% has been recorded in the volume of photo-thermo-refractive glass Attenuation up to 20 times of transmitted beam was observed. Advantages of holographic filters in inorganic glass for laser power attenuation are discussed. © 2003 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (230.1480) Bragg reflecto...

An experimental setup, based on the laser-induced deflection technique, is developed to measure simultaneously the 244 nm laser absorption, scattering, and luminescence on optical components. The different techniques and methods that have been specifically developed to obtain both high resolution (micronic) and sensitivity (a few 10(-7) of the incident power for the absorption, 10(-8) for scatt...