Laser Amplifier

For investigating Ponderomotive effects, we may need ~100 kW circulating in the arm cavities. For this, we --are-- were looking at getting an amplifier to boost the 1 W input we have right now. Now we have decided to go with the following setup:

1. RIO Planex (1064 nm) as master oscillator; output ~ 20 mW, see datasheets.

   • Commercial (Thorlabs) temperature controller
   • Thorlabs butterfly package
   • How to package for low acoustic sensitivity?
   • Use the latest version of Johannes/Luis/Rich diode driver for driving the current and locking to the IMC. Make sure to order 2 units from Luis.
   • Need fiber to free space thing with low AR / good polish
   • Fiber based PM for locking to IMC w/ high bandwidth.
   • Fiber based AM for intensity servo

2. 1-2 stage CW fiber amp to take us to > 20 W

Some formal quotes / info from talking to sales reps:

1. After talking with NeoLase, one candidate is the NeoVan-2S-HP.

   • 25k euro.
   • 30W out for 1W in.

   • Quote and specs: Quote.

   • Paper about this amplifier performance: OL.44.000719

   • Optional air cooling in case we want to avoid water cooling.
   • Need to confirm that the amplifier can be integrated with out Acromag slow control system.

2. Quote from Optical Engines:

   • Quote_opticalEngines

   • 50k$
   • maybe we can have something cheaper if we supply 1W instead of their spec of 30 mW?

3. Spoke with rep from NPphotonics - expected quote is <$30,000 for an amplifier only.

   • Re-contacted them on 25 June 2019, waiting for a response.

   • Rana contacted Arturo on June 25 Aug 7; waiting for reply.

4. NuFern (now Coherent) does not make amplifiers anymore, only MOPA.

5. IPG Photonics YAR-LP-SF

   • 30 W output for 5 mW input

   • ask them about 500 mW -> 30 W (44 k$)

   • quote: amplifier.pdf

6. IPG Photonics fiber amplifier for a low power seed:
   • 20W output with 3 mW input
   • Johnny Poon says its $35k

   • YAR-20

7. RPMC lasers:

   • $15k for 20 W. 1064 FC amplifiers

   • if we use a 20 mW seed, they add a pre-amp (cost increase by ~2.5k$)
   • contact - Shawn Smith

8. Amonics

   • Got in contact with them today (25 June 2019), waiting for a response

Commentary from Rana (Aug 7, 2019):

• The NeoLase stuff is probably the highest quality, but also expensive?

Power Calculation

See Power Calculation page

Why Fiber and not Free Space ?

Because fiber seems to be the way of the future...

What's the price / ease-of-use difference for the free space vs fiber?

If we continue with the 2W NPRO, we would use the free space amplifier, but its possible to use a RIO Planex with a fiber amplifier.