40-W cw, TEM_00-mode, diode-laser-pumped, Nd:YAG miniature-slab laser

Abstract

We have built a diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser that emits 40 W of cw power in a TEM 00 mode and 72 W of power in multimode operation when pumped with 235 W. The slope efficiencies are 22% for TEM 00-mode operation and 36% for multimode operation. The laser uses a zigzag slab geometry to reduce thermally induced distortions and operates at less than one wave of distortion at the full pump power. A significant advantage of our design over those of previous slab lasers is a new Teflon AF protective coating on the slab total-internal-reflection surfaces, which greatly simplifies the mounting and cooling of the slab laser medium.

Edge-pumped, folded zig-zag Nd:YAG slab laser

“…8. Slope efficiency of our laser is comparable with the previous face-pumped geometry reported in [6] as 36%. However, in comparison with the edge-pumped systems reported in [4,7], this is lower, since slope efficiency is a function of pump power and pump-power density (Fig.…”

Revisiting the Hydrothermal growth of YAG

“…As a result, and also owing to some favorable physical and optical properties, garnet-based materials (as single crystals and transparent ceramics) have found great favor for use as solid-state laser materials. In particular YAG, Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , has been demonstrated as a host material for a number of transition metals and rare earth ions in many laser designs including rod [3], slab [4], disk [5], planar waveguide [6] and microchip [7] lasers as well as passive Q-switch applications [8]. While the field of optics has advanced at a rapid pace to develop and improve such lasers it would seem that the crystal growth of garnets has not advanced quite at the same pace.…”

Gravitational Wave Detection by Interferometry (Ground and Space)

“…Thus the test masses for gravitational wave detectors have to be 1.4 times larger in diameter for infrared than for green light. Nd:YAG sources do however have some compelling advantages, and in particular the potential for scaling Nd:YAG laser designs up to levels of 100 W or more [90] combined with their superior efficiency, has led all the long baseline interferometer projects to choose some form of Nd:YAG light source.…”