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Gimbals for limitless applications
by the Cary 83 (normally requiring two infrared instruments), the possibility of studying inorganic and biological molecules in aqueous solution with ease, and the vibrational sensitivity. Frequency accuracy is *4 cm-‘, frequency reproducibility *2 cm-‘, and resolution is 2 cm-‘.
The laser amplifier module that has been tested is designed to amplify up up to 10 input light pulses/set, with SO-80joules/pulse and each pulse lasting typically 30 nanoseconds; but larger scale versions would be capable of producing pulses carrying thousands of joules of optical energy.
Sample preparation presents few problems: liquid samples are examined in glass capillaries; gases can be examined in cases where the laser power or excitation efficiency permits; and there are no limitations on size, shape or geometry of single crystals.
The new laser is suited as an amplifier to increase energy in lower power laser beams, such as those produced by laser oscillators. It works using a number of thin slabs of neodyniumdoped glass set end-to-end in a zigzag line. Flash tubes on both sides of the laser, parallel to it, ‘pump’ energy into it. The pumping action of the laser is made uniform across the beam by uniformly illuminating the ‘faces’ of each of the slabs of glass; and a special cooling fluid is circulated past the faces of the slabs.
Grry Instruments, 2724 South Peck Rd, Monrovia, Galifomia 91016, USA (U.K. agent: Varian Associates Ltd, Russell House, Molesey Rd, Walton-onThames, Surrey) Irish lasers A new laser manufacturing company, Electra-Photonics, has been set up on the outskirts of Belfast. It will produce a range of lasers and associated optoelectronic equipment; the research and development skills for which will come from Professor D. Bradley and his research team from Queens University, Belfast. Several new scientific features are incorporated on the Electra-Photonics equipment. Extremely powerful, longlife flashtubes have been developed for pumping the laser dyes. Both the flashtubes and the liquid dye cells can be easily replaced with a plug-in mounting, and light of any colour in the visible spectrum can be projected with a simple tuning device developed at the University. A pure single frequency can be selected and the laser then operates in a single mode with a very well defined beam pattern. In addition, the Belfast dye laser has the unique facility of producing light pulses at a millionth of a millionth of a second - a picosecond - and thus opens up a revolutionary way of isolating and examining the smallest particle of matter, the molecule. Electra-Photonics Limited, The Ctrtts, Dem3ghy, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland.
Zigzag laser A new solid-state pulsed laser that produces an optical power output of up to 1OOKWhas been developed at the General Electric Research and Development Center, NY, USA.
Geneml Electric Company (USA) PO Box 8, Schenectady, N. Y. 12301, USA.
Ginibals for limitless applications Lasermetrics Inc has developed a twoaxis gimbal for the suppott and precise alignment of a wide variety of optical and electro-optical components. Known as the MV 120 Angular Adjustment Device, it was designed primarily for the adjustment of longitudinal and transverse field laser modulars, but has a great number of other applications. The gimbals vee mounting surface can support cylindrical components of 1 - 3 in. (25 - 76 mm) in diameter from %Iin. (6 mm) to more than 12 in. (305 mm) in length and weighing in excess of 4 lbs. (1.8 kg), and this unrestricted interfacing eliminates the need for costly adaptors. In order to prevent disturbance of the trunnion vee surface during angular setting, the drive mechanism is part of a rigid structure. The Y - Y (pitch) axis a trunnion mounted to the base and suspended by precision frictionless balls to maintain an accurate angular position within a total range of 6”. The angular displacement capability about the X-X (azimuth) axis is a full 5”) but when a great range of movement is required angular displacement about each axis can be extended to IO’. Components are held firmly to the vee surface by a neoprene tension band. This also allows the component to be rotated about its own axis when clamped.
Fig. 7
Lasermetrics two axis gimbal both standard and micrometer drive model.
Angular displacements are effected by rotation of individual finger-controlled translator screws. The gimbal is fitted with micrometer drives which provide a known relationship between thimble vernier setting and designed angular setting and also preloaded and.factory present spring plungers maintain a constant and equilized load on the translator drive within the specified range. The gimbal has a resolution of 1 second of arc and a restability from micrometer for the micrometer drive model of 6 seconds of arc. Angular range of highest resolution is *2%” azimuth and + 3’ pitch. Additional design features include mountability on plane surface or post, with mounting hole provided, complete freedom from cross-coupling angularly or linearly, frictionless bearing surfaces which require no lubrication, and ‘trip-proofmg’ by virtue of the unrestricted vee surface. This allows components of significant weight and length to be balanced about the X-X gimbal axis. Lasermetrics Inc, Rochelle Park, New Jersey 07622, USA
Tunable infra-red laser Research workers at the Heriot-Watt University have almost perfected the first fully tunable infrared laser. This device, which basically is a magnetoRaman spin-flip laser, has already achieved power levels of up to 100 W and is fully tunable over a continuous range from 9 to 16 mm. Light of wavelength 10.6pm from a Q-switched carbon dioxide laser passes through a small rectangular crystal of indium antimonide which lies in the
Optics and Laser Technology
August 1971
191
The laser amplifier module that has been tested is designed to amplify up up to 10 input light pulses/set, with SO-80joules/pulse and each pulse lasting typically 30 nanoseconds; but larger scale versions would be capable of producing pulses carrying thousands of joules of optical energy.
Sample preparation presents few problems: liquid samples are examined in glass capillaries; gases can be examined in cases where the laser power or excitation efficiency permits; and there are no limitations on size, shape or geometry of single crystals.
The new laser is suited as an amplifier to increase energy in lower power laser beams, such as those produced by laser oscillators. It works using a number of thin slabs of neodyniumdoped glass set end-to-end in a zigzag line. Flash tubes on both sides of the laser, parallel to it, ‘pump’ energy into it. The pumping action of the laser is made uniform across the beam by uniformly illuminating the ‘faces’ of each of the slabs of glass; and a special cooling fluid is circulated past the faces of the slabs.
Grry Instruments, 2724 South Peck Rd, Monrovia, Galifomia 91016, USA (U.K. agent: Varian Associates Ltd, Russell House, Molesey Rd, Walton-onThames, Surrey) Irish lasers A new laser manufacturing company, Electra-Photonics, has been set up on the outskirts of Belfast. It will produce a range of lasers and associated optoelectronic equipment; the research and development skills for which will come from Professor D. Bradley and his research team from Queens University, Belfast. Several new scientific features are incorporated on the Electra-Photonics equipment. Extremely powerful, longlife flashtubes have been developed for pumping the laser dyes. Both the flashtubes and the liquid dye cells can be easily replaced with a plug-in mounting, and light of any colour in the visible spectrum can be projected with a simple tuning device developed at the University. A pure single frequency can be selected and the laser then operates in a single mode with a very well defined beam pattern. In addition, the Belfast dye laser has the unique facility of producing light pulses at a millionth of a millionth of a second - a picosecond - and thus opens up a revolutionary way of isolating and examining the smallest particle of matter, the molecule. Electra-Photonics Limited, The Ctrtts, Dem3ghy, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland.
Zigzag laser A new solid-state pulsed laser that produces an optical power output of up to 1OOKWhas been developed at the General Electric Research and Development Center, NY, USA.
Geneml Electric Company (USA) PO Box 8, Schenectady, N. Y. 12301, USA.
Ginibals for limitless applications Lasermetrics Inc has developed a twoaxis gimbal for the suppott and precise alignment of a wide variety of optical and electro-optical components. Known as the MV 120 Angular Adjustment Device, it was designed primarily for the adjustment of longitudinal and transverse field laser modulars, but has a great number of other applications. The gimbals vee mounting surface can support cylindrical components of 1 - 3 in. (25 - 76 mm) in diameter from %Iin. (6 mm) to more than 12 in. (305 mm) in length and weighing in excess of 4 lbs. (1.8 kg), and this unrestricted interfacing eliminates the need for costly adaptors. In order to prevent disturbance of the trunnion vee surface during angular setting, the drive mechanism is part of a rigid structure. The Y - Y (pitch) axis a trunnion mounted to the base and suspended by precision frictionless balls to maintain an accurate angular position within a total range of 6”. The angular displacement capability about the X-X (azimuth) axis is a full 5”) but when a great range of movement is required angular displacement about each axis can be extended to IO’. Components are held firmly to the vee surface by a neoprene tension band. This also allows the component to be rotated about its own axis when clamped.
Fig. 7
Lasermetrics two axis gimbal both standard and micrometer drive model.
Angular displacements are effected by rotation of individual finger-controlled translator screws. The gimbal is fitted with micrometer drives which provide a known relationship between thimble vernier setting and designed angular setting and also preloaded and.factory present spring plungers maintain a constant and equilized load on the translator drive within the specified range. The gimbal has a resolution of 1 second of arc and a restability from micrometer for the micrometer drive model of 6 seconds of arc. Angular range of highest resolution is *2%” azimuth and + 3’ pitch. Additional design features include mountability on plane surface or post, with mounting hole provided, complete freedom from cross-coupling angularly or linearly, frictionless bearing surfaces which require no lubrication, and ‘trip-proofmg’ by virtue of the unrestricted vee surface. This allows components of significant weight and length to be balanced about the X-X gimbal axis. Lasermetrics Inc, Rochelle Park, New Jersey 07622, USA
Tunable infra-red laser Research workers at the Heriot-Watt University have almost perfected the first fully tunable infrared laser. This device, which basically is a magnetoRaman spin-flip laser, has already achieved power levels of up to 100 W and is fully tunable over a continuous range from 9 to 16 mm. Light of wavelength 10.6pm from a Q-switched carbon dioxide laser passes through a small rectangular crystal of indium antimonide which lies in the
Optics and Laser Technology
August 1971
191