10-KHZ, 5-KW AIR-COOLED OPO EYE-SAFE LASER

A highly repetitive eye-safe laser for laser radar applications has be en developed. It converts the wavelength of a laser diode pumped Q swi tch Nd:YVO4 laser to a wavelength of 1,573 nm through optical parametr ic oscillation using a potassium titanyl phosphate crystal. It offers a pulse peak power of 5 kW, with a pulse width of 10.5 ns, at a pulse repetition frequency of 10 kHz. Decrease of its power at ambient tempe ratures of -20 degrees C to +50 degrees C did not exceed 14%. No degra dation of performance was observed after a vibration test conducted at 14 to 200 Hz with an acceleration of 2G.