The development of laser effectors at the Institute of Technical Physics focuses on optimising the beam quality of high power lasers in continuous wave or pulsed operation and their power scaling into the multi-kilowatt range. Depending on their power, these laser effectors have a wide range of applications for transmitting energy over long distances using laser radiation.
In contrast to conventional light sources, the radiant energy of a laser is completely concentrated in its narrow emission beam. This enables targeted energy transmission, even over long distances of many kilometres – provided that sufficiently good beam quality and suitable transmission optics are available.
The Institute of Technical Physics is conducting research into the power scaling of laser concepts with high beam quality, the propagation of high-power laser radiation in the atmosphere including the compensation of optical interference, the tracking of transmitting optics on fast-moving objects and the effect.
Atmospheric propagation
The atmospheric propagation of laser radiation is important in a growing number of different disciplines. These include optical communication, satellite tracking and laser-based remote detection processes. The signal quality at great distances from the beam source is determined by the laser properties and the effects of the turbulent atmosphere on the laser radiation. These effects are investigated numerically and experimentally for relevant laser types.
In the investigations into the propagation of laser radiation through the atmosphere, continuous wave lasers (milliwatt to multi-kilowatt) and pulsed lasers (millijoule to multi-joule) of different wavelengths and beam qualities are used on the laser free beam path. In addition to the variable transmission of the atmosphere due to different weather conditions, the influences of optical turbulence on beam travelling and beam deformation are also considered.
Numerical studies to describe atmospheric propagation accompany the experimental work. The simulation models are primarily developed and continuously expanded internally and describe the turbulence behaviour of the atmosphere on the basis of the turbulence phase screen method and use FFT methods for the calculation. Numerical methods and experimental investigations complement each other in the description of the propagation properties.
Laser safety
When using high-power laser radiation in open space, scattered and reflected laser radiation can pose a risk to third parties. By developing appropriate numerical models, partly supported by experimental work, the institute generates important data for hazard assessment and risk assessment. The institute is also involved in the development of laser concepts for applications such as the detection of space debris or laser-based air defense, which have a reduced risk potential for the eye due to the wavelength used.
Departments / Groups
Loading
Contact
Jochen Speiser
Head of department Solid State Lasers and Nonlinear Optics
