Copper vapor laser place in the laser isotope separation program

Abstract

The French uranium enrichment program, SILVA ( Si5paration Isotopique par Laser de la Vapeur Atomique d'uranium), has chosen yet the Copper Vapor Laser (CVL) for dye laser pumping. CVL is the most efficient laser in the visible, for pulsed operation, and with a high repetition rate. Over 400W of average optical power is achived from one unit; work is done under CEA/CILAS contract. A 120W laser, the ICL 100 is available on the market from CEA/CILAS. MTBF over 1000 h is specified. In MOPA (Master oscillator power amplifier) configuration, hundred of hours at nearly 600W level is obtained in the CEA facilities. Other CVL industrial applications like hole drilling or paint removing are considered.