Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-15-2024

Abstract

Laser Guide Star (LGS) systems are essential for adaptive optics in ground-based astronomical observation. This dissertation demonstrates the feasibility of semiconductor-based LGS systems using the membrane external-cavity surface-emitting laser (MECSEL) platform, employing multiple quantum wells. Various laser cavity configurations were analyzed through simulations and experiments. The in-well pumping method was explored to reduce the quantum defect and address thermal limitations. Multi-pass pumping schemes were designed with Zemax modeling and demonstrated experimentally. To simplify multi-pass pumping, the hybrid-MECSEL (H-MECSEL) design was introduced. COMSOL modeling studied thermal management and thermal lensing effect.

The H-MECSEL achieved approximately 30 W of output power at 1178 nm, frequency-doubled to over 10 W at 589.2 nm with TEM00 beam profile and 7 MHz linewidth. Hyperfine transitions within sodium D-lines were resolved using saturated absorption spectroscopy and dither-locking was implemented, stabilizing the H-MECSEL to the sodium D2a line over an hour with watt-level output power. Allan deviation calculations confirmed the stabilization efficacy.

Degree Name

Optical Science and Engineering

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Optical Science and Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Alexander R. Albrecht

Second Committee Member

Victor Acosta

Third Committee Member

Garrett D. Cole

Fourth Committee Member

Daniel Feezell

Keywords

Semiconductor Disk Laser (SDL), Membrane External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (MECSEL), Laser Guide Star (LGS), In-Well Pumping, Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy (SAS), Laser Frequency Stabilization

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

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