Semi-automatic system with 4 mirrors for high-power laser beam alignment

Abstract

Laser beam alignment requires the work with an open beam (‘life’) and involves directing the beam towards a series of reflective or partially reflective surfaces, such asmirrors or lenses, so that the beam follows some predetermined path. The system is proposed for the alignment purposes of the beamlines and Secondary Sources driven bythe high-power laser system. The beam of the diode laser (‘pilot’) with certain precision reproduces the major parameters of the main beam - in particular, centralwavelength, wavefront curvature (beam sphericity), beam diameter, pointing, etc. The alignment laser diode beam is inserted at the position between the last amplifier stage and the beam transport entrance of the high-power laser system. In general, the laser beam should be propagated to target area on the distance > 40 m, therefore such a system should provide highest accuracy of the beam matching. Alignment operations are required to constrain the beam within the optical clear aperture of mirrors and lenses. The dy