Co-amplification: An efficient spectral beam combination approach for high power, closely separated dual wavelength dye laser systems

Characteristics of an efficient spectral beam combination of two dye laser beams with wavelength difference of less than 10 nm are presented. Two dye laser oscillator beams were spatially and temporally combined with reduced losses before their co-amplification in a common power amplifier. Yellow and green beams of 9 kHz (pulse repetition rate) copper vapour laser (CVL) Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) Chain were utilised to pump Rh 101 dye laser oscillators and DCM dye common amplifier respectively. The characteristics of green beam pumped DCM dye common amplifier were studied at various pump power and input power ratios. Combination losses for this configuration were 40% relative to individually amplified configuration. Input–output characteristics of the common amplifier were determined at various input power ratios. Composite dual wavelength dye laser beam having total power of 7.35W at 38.4 W pump power with extraction efficiency 16.5% was demonstrated.