Thermal management of solid state lasers using optical quality silicon carbide

Abstract

We have demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that Silicon Carbide (SiC) may be used as an efficient heat sinking material for face cooling of gain media in solid-state lasers. Comparative thermal modeling and temperature distribution measurements of diode-pumped 4 at.% Nd:YAG ceramic laser medium face cooled by undoped YAG (as a baseline), Diamond and SiC lead to the conclusion that SiC is an effective replacement for much more expensive diamond as an intracavity face cooling material. Laser performance of a SiC face-cooled 4 at.% Nd:YAG ceramic press-fit stack was demonstrated with a 24% slope efficiency with no AR coatings between the SiC and YAG.

A silicon carbide face cooled ceramic Nd:YAG laser

“…Previous modeling efforts of a face cooled lasing gain medium had been validated through experimental measurement [4] giving us confidence that calculation would produce realistic predictions. The three dimensional FEA modeling of the assembly of the face cooled 4%Nd:YAG wafer, was based on a double, SiC face cooled 4%Nd:YAG disk as drawn in Figure 1.Undoped YAG endcaps were included in the model in anticipation of the experimental setup.…”