Experimental study of a high power and high efficiency CW diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG laser

This paper reports on the characterization of a diode-side-pumped CW Nd:YAG laser. A side-pumped configuration with 9 laser diodes is used for the laser. Pump light is directly coupled into the Nd:YAG rod without focusing lenses and the pump light distribution in the Nd:YAG rod was calculated. A maximum output power of 150 W in multimode operation is obtained for a pumping power of 400 W. The optical–optical efficiency is 37%. Output power of the laser under different output couplers, resonator lengths and temperatures of the cooling water have been studied.     

Highly efficient diode side-pumped Nd:YAG ceramic laser with 210 W output power

We developed a highly efficient diode side-pumped Nd:YAG ceramic laser with a diffusive reflector as an optical pump cavity. A maximum output power of 211.6 W was obtained with an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 48.7%. This corresponds to the highest conversion efficiency in the side-pumped ceramic rod. Thermal effects of the Nd:YAG ceramic rod were analyzed in detail through the measurements of laser output powers and beam profiles near the critically unstable region. A M² beam quality factor of 18.7 was obtained at the maximum laser output power.     

A highly efficient 5 kW peak power Nd:YAG laser with time-shared fiber optic beam delivery

Here, we report on the development of an efficient, high peak power lamp pumped Nd:YAG laser with time-shared fiber optic beam delivery. A maximum average output power of 270 W with 100 J maximum pulse energy and 5 kW peak power has been achieved with an electrical to laser conversion efficiency of 5.4%, which is on higher side for typical lamp pumped solid-state lasers. We have improved efficiency by spectral conversion and water flow optimization in the pump cavity, with a resulting beam quality comparable to commercial systems of similar power level. The resonator has been designed for stable operation from single-shot to 200 Hz repetition rate. A study of pulse-to-pulse laser energy stability for different resonator configurations has also been performed. The resonator was designed to achieve a good beam quality for the whole range of operation with a maximum beam parameter product of 15 mm mrad (M²45). A simple mechanism for time-shared fiber optic port selection has also been devised. Material processing applications such as cutting of stainless steel sheets up to 14 mm thickness and welding of metals such as carbon steel with weld depths up to 2 mm using the developed laser system has also been reported.     

Mathematical modelling of an Nd: YAG laser: peak power and pulse width

In a previous paper, the author presented an empirically derived mathematical model of a pulse pumped laser which allowed calculation of the output energy from the laser—from the mirrors-only resonator to the fully assembled Q-switched state. In this paper the model is developed further by deriving an expression for the peak output power. New coupling and loss time constant are stated. The validity of the model is demonstrated by the ability of calculate the laser parameters from a measured pulse shape, knowing the rod dimensions and the pump energy at which the pulse was measured.     

二极管泵浦被动调Q Nd:YAG/ KTP绿光激光器

报道了LD泵浦的Nd:YAG/KTP/Cr:YAG结构被动调Q绿光激光器.当注入泵浦功率为750mW时,获得了平均功率38mW,脉冲宽度14.7ns,重复频率20.4kHz,峰值功率126.6W的调Q绿激光输出.     

A novel high-peak power double AO Q-switches pulse Nd:YAG laser for drilling

This paper reports on the characterization and analysis of a novel high power with double acousto-optical (AO) Q-switch pulse laser. It is shown that two AO Q-switches, in which acousto-fields are perpendicular to each other, switch-loss is nearly three times larger than one AO Q-switch, one time larger than the two AO Q-switches in which acousto-field are parallel. The laser pulse bursts, with 5–50 kHz repetition rate of the burst, typically 200 ns duration, 400 kW the peak power, 5 mm mrad beam parameter product, are obtained. Using the laser for drilling, the perfect drilling results are given to a thinner recast layer.     

Analysis and modelling of high power laser beam position sensing

A new theory using a rotating convex mirror to reflect part of a laser beam into a pyro-electric sensor in order to detect the high power laser beam position is addressed in this research. The experiments were performed on the Nd: YAG laser system. The sensing performance was tested with the average power up to 50 W, duration time 1 ms and duration frequency 360 Hz. The results of static experiments show that the sensing system designed and developed in this research may correctly detect the Nd: YAG laser beam with the system parameters varied. The results of dynamic experiments show that the average sensing accuracy of beam position is up to 90% with a wide variation of laser system parameters.     

高功率薄片激光介质温度与应力数值模拟

NdYAG薄片激光介质采用上表面二极管阵列泵浦,下表面冷却的工作方式,对NdYAG薄片激光介质和Cu冷却器建立了理论计算模型.分别计算了在不同泵浦面积的条件下薄片的温度分布和应力大小,薄片泵浦面积大小与应力的关系,以及在NdYAG薄片与Cu冷却器之间增加与NdYAG热膨胀系数相近的介质层材料对应力影响的关系.计算结果表明在泵浦功率密度、外界温度和冷却条件一致的情况下,泵浦光泵浦整个薄片时总体应力最小,应力主要是由于NdYAG薄片与Cu冷却器热膨胀系数不匹配而产生的,增加介质层能改变应力大小;泵浦光泵浦部分薄片时总体应力较大,应力主要是薄片泵浦区与非泵浦区温差造成的,与介质层无关.     

四棒串接连续灯泵浦Nd:YAG大功率激光器

 报道了一种符合工业应用的四棒谐振腔连续Nd:YAG激光器。实验中采用对称放置方式四棒串接谐振腔得到2 105 W的平均功率输出，光束参数积24 mm·mrad，系统总光电转换效率达到3.5%。还对影响激光器工作的因素进行了理论分析。     

双色膜V形有源镜结构的固体热容激光器输出特性

 为了避免片状布儒斯特角结构热容激光器由热退偏造成的腔内高动态损耗,采用双色膜技术研制了V形有源镜结构固体热容激光器。该激光器采用曲率半径为5 m的平凹稳定腔结构,共8片Nd:YAG介质,每片介质表面采用双色膜层设计,每2片构成一个模块,由3支氙灯提供能量,激光器由4个模块构成。在双色膜层上,泵浦光透过率大于95%,对1 064 nm光波反射率大于99.7%。在1 ms脉宽重复频率运转条件下,激光输出随时间下降并渐趋平稳;在5 ms脉宽运转时,单脉冲输出47 J,输出峰值功率达9.4 kW,与计算得到的10.11 kW的峰值输出基本相符。该振荡器的总体电光效率达到了1.2%,通过进一步优化后,具备向更高功率定标放大的潜力。     

Surface modifications of AISI 1045 steel created by high intensity 1064 and 532 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses

Interaction of Nd:YAG laser, operating at 1064 or 532 nm wavelength and a pulse duration of 40 ps, with AISI 1045 steel was studied. Surface damage thresholds were estimated to be 0.30 and 0.16 J/cm² at the wavelengths of 1064 and 532 nm, respectively. The steel surface modification was studied at the laser energy density of 10.3 J/cm² (at 1064 nm) and 5.4 J/cm² (at 532 nm). The energy absorbed from Nd:YAG laser beam is partially converted to thermal energy, which generates a series of effects, such as melting, vaporization of the molten material, shock waves, etc. The following AISI 1045 steel surface morphological changes and processes were observed: (i) both laser wavelengths cause damage of the steel in the central zone of irradiated area; (ii) appearance of a hydrodynamic feature in the form of resolidified droplets of the material in the surrounding outer zone with 1064 nm laser wavelength; (iii) appearance of periodic surface structures, at micro- and nano-level, with the 532 nm wavelength and, (iv) development of plasma in front of the target. Generally, interaction of laser beam with the AISI 1045 steel (at 1064 and 532 nm) results in a near-instantaneous creation of damage, meaning that large steel surfaces can be processed in short time.     

高功率高重频U型腔激光器的仿真与实验研究

 为了得到结构紧凑的高功率、高重复频率固体激光器,设计了“U”型光学谐振腔,并利用LAS-CAD软件分析了激光晶体的热效应和激光输出特性。根据仿真结果进行了具体实验,最终得到了腔长400 mm的紧凑型固体激光器。在重复频率为100 kHz,泵浦功率为60 W时,输出功率达到21.6 W,光-光转换效率为36%,斜率效率为39.9%。     

468-W CW operation of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG rod laser with high beam quality and highly efficient concentrator of pump light

A novel design of an efficient, highly reliable, and good beam quality diode-pumped solid-state laser for precise material processing application is presented. Effort has been done to obtain a highly uniform pumping intensity in the active area, which simultaneously reduces the effects of thermal gradient. In this design a novel lens duct configuration which send the light into the center of the rod is used. By this way a uniform power distribution and a maximum absorption of pump power is resulted. Adopting this design, the maximum laser power of 468 W with optical to optical efficiency of 33% in CW mode and M² factor of less than 15 is obtained. Numerical analysis also indicates the superiority of the design to other methods such as direct and diffusive pumping techniques.     

Oscillation conditions of cw simultaneous dual-wavelength Nd：YAG laser for transitions 4F3／2-4I9／2 and 4F3／2-4I11／2

The operating condition of a cw simultaneous dual-wavelength Nd:YAG laser for both {}^4F_{3/2}-{}^4I_{9/2} (quasi-three-level system) and {}^4F_{3/2}-{}^4I_{11/2}(four-level system) transitions is studied. According to this condition, the cw simultaneous dual-wavelength at 1.06μm and 946 nm in Nd:YAG crystal has been realized experimentally through an adaptive coating design of the cavity mirrors. A total power output of 2.5W of the dual-wavelength at 946nm and 1.06μm has been achieved with an optical conversion efficiency 14.3%. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.     

Cutting by a high power laser at a long distance without an assist gas for dismantling

As the applications of laser processing progress, new fields of use are being investigated, including dismantling with power lasers. To fulfil our dismantling requirements we propose a new laser method that we have called the laser dismantling (LD) process. This cutting method uses a high-power laser at a long distance, without an assist gas, and with a focal length of the system of 1 m to 10 m. Precision and accuracy in the process are not the same as for laser cutting for production and assembly. The first application of the laser dismantling process, on which we demonstrate our method, is the dismantling of obsolete nuclear plants with remote controlled, or automatic, robots in irradiated environments. For our demonstrator, the beam from a Nd:YAG laser was focused by a multimode optical fibre. The objectives of this paper are: to discuss the criteria for determining the theoretical feasibility of LD; to discuss issues related to future industrial implementation by introducing the process's basic principles; and to compare LD with classical laser processing, which differs not only in the consideration of cutting quality and speed, but also in the cutting irregularities that could be accepted.     

High power 1341.4 nmNd:YAlO3 CW laser and its performances

A lamp pumped high power 1341.4 nmNd:YAlO₃CW laser and its performances have been described. As high as 188 W of CW output power has been obtained at 1341.4 nm alone line with a overall efficiency of 1.37% and a slope efficiency of 2.14%. The divergence (FWHM) and instability (RMS) of this laser at output power of 155 W are 15 mrad and 1.19%, respectively.     

A new proposal of high repetitive Nd:YAG laser power supply adopted the sequential charge and discharge circuit

The pulsed Nd:YAG laser is the most commonly used type of solid-state laser in many fields. In material processing, the power density control of a laser beam has been considered to be significant, which depends on the flashlamp current pulse width and pulse repetition rate.In this study, we have proposed a new method of sequential charge and discharge circuit (SCADC) to control the laser power density. The power supply of SCADC is composed of low frequency capacitors instead of very expensive high frequency capacitors. We could find the stability of laser output as well as the flashlamp current up to the pulse repetition rate of 150 pps. As increasing a repetition rate from 30 to 150 pps by the step of 30 pps, it is known that the laser outputs increased by 10 W.     

Investigation of Cr:YAG passive mode-locking in a pulsed Nd:YAG laser

Passive mode-locking of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser using a Cr⁴⁺:YAG saturable absorber was realized for the first time in a nearly critical stable resonator containing an antiresonant ring structure. The output energy and pulse duration are 13.5 mJ and 180 ps, respectively. The recovery time and saturable intensity for excited-state absorption of Cr⁴⁺:YAG under the action of strong laser pulses were calculated from rate equations.     

220 W average output power from a Q-switching Nd: YAG slab laser with a LiF:F2 crystal

By using a LiF:F^-₂ crystal as a passive Q-switching modulator an average output power of 220 W was achieved from a Nd:YAG slab laser. The oscillator-amplifier resonator configuration under investigation delivered a peak pulse power up to 3 MW and a pulse energy of 0.31 J, pulse width of 100 ns.     

重频Yb:YAG片状激光器电光调$lt;i$gt;Q$lt;/i$gt;时空演化模拟计算和实验研究

基于Yb³⁺抽运动力学,结合光线追迹的方法,建立了抽运过程中的放大自发辐射模型,得到激光介质中三维含时储能分布.将速率方程理论和角谱传播理论结合,对谐振腔内调Q脉冲的形成、传播过程进行建模计算,得到激光脉冲的时间-空间分布和光束质量因子变化规律.同时进行了激光二极管抽运重频Yb：YAG片状激光器电光调Q实验,并与模拟计算的结果进行了对比校核,印证了计算模型的正确性.这为主动调Q固体激光器的设计提供了参考. 关键词： Yb：YAG激光器 Q')" href="#">调Q 时空演化