One of the major challenges to achieving high power solid state laser is to produce the appropriate bean quality. Adaptive Optics (AO) technology has vital importance in the development of high energy laser weaponry. Xinetics proposes to develop an integrated dual-mode DM which is capable to correct entire intra-cavity aberration. This DM will be able to mitigate initial large aberration caused by pump power turn on period and continue to operate to form conjugated wavefront for necessary beam control. The combination of two types of actuations - surface normal and surface parallel- will enable wavefront correction with different temporal and spatial frequency optical distortion from an entire power amplifier chain thereby eliminating the need of multiple bounces on the DM, image relay optics between DM bounces and the use of static phase correctors.
Benefits: The resulting laser system will have significantly smaller footprint and less weight and lower cost which are important factors for tactical laser application. The successful projects will benefit not only all of the DOD components associated with directed energy weaponry but also DOE high energy laser application. The same concepts can be applid to other laser applications such as industrial laser and astronomical AO community.
Keywords: deformable mirror, adaptive optics, high energy solid state laser, solid state actuators
