Beam characterization of a scalable 220 W-ceramic Nd:YAG laser

Year: 2007

Authors: Favilla E., Sani E., Ciofini M., Lapucci A.

Autors Affiliation: CNR – Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy

Abstract: We describe the analysis of the propagation properties of the beam extracted from a slab-shaped ceramic Nd:YAG laser. The YAG slab is face pumped by two horizontal arrays of quasi-CW diode bars delivering 1200 W in 150 usee pulses up to a 15% duty cycle. The use of a hybrid stable-unstable resonator enables a maximum extraction of more than 215 W at 28% slope efficiency level, with a beam parameter product smaller than 3mm.mrad in both transverse directions. M2 values have been characterized as a function of the diode pumping current. Furthermore, by an analysis of the M2 trend as a function of the knife-edge clipping levels, we have been able to infer the modal composition of the beam in both the stable and unstable direction.

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More Information: Sponsors: Bundesministerium fuer Verkehr, Innovation und Technol., Austria; Amt der Ooe Landesregierung, Linz, Austria; EOARD- Air Force Office of Sci. Res., US Air Force Res. Lab., UK; European Optical Society, Austria; et al.
KeyWords: Ceramic materials; Diodes; High power lasers; Laser beams; Neodymium; Resonators; Scalability, Ceramic Nd:YAG laser; Diode pumping current; Hybrid stable-unstable resonator; Knife-edge clipping levels, Solid state lasers
DOI: 10.1117/12.737391

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