Efficient Yb:KGW lasers end-pumped by high-power diode bars

The laser performance of Yb:KGW under end-pumping with high-power diode bars has been investigated. In one configuration, the pump is delivered through an optical fiber yielding a symmetric but unpolarized pump spot. In the second configuration, the pump is delivered through an optical lens system yielding a polarized but asymmetric pump spot. Both configurations resulted in a maximum optical to optical efficiency of 47% and a maximum power of 12.4 W has been generated with the fiber coupled pump source. The output power was limited by crystal fracture, which occurred at an estimated temperature gradient of 1.2×10⁵ K/m. Thermal lensing and laser tuning characteristics are also investigated. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Lh     

Quasi-three-level Nd:YAG laser under diode pumping directly into the emitting level

We present theoretical and experimental investigations on ground-state direct pumping at 869 nm into the emitting level ⁴F_3/2 of end-pumped quasi-three-level Nd:YAG lasers operating at 946 nm. We have demonstrated, what we believe is for the first time, a Nd:YAG laser at 946 nm directly pumped by diodes and obtained 1.6 W of output power.     

High-power Q-switched Nd:YAG laser mounted in a silicon microbench

A high-power Q-switched Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG laser mounted in a silicon microbench is presented. It reaches an average output power well above 2 W and the pulse width is in the order of 1.4 ns. The use of microstructure silicon carriers provides efficient thermal control, compact integration and alignment of active and passive optical components.     

Efficient generation of blue light by frequency doubling of a Nd:YAG laser operating on 4 F 3/24 I 9/2 transitions

Efficient room-temperature operation of ⁴ F _3/2⁴ I _9/2 transitions in diode-end-pumped Nd:YAG lasers at 946 nm and 938.5 nm is reported. 7.0-W continuous-wave output power at 946 nm and 3.9 W at 938.5 nm have been obtained. An analytical model has been developed for the quasi-three-level laser including the influence of energy-transfer upconversion. Frequency doubling of these transitions in periodically poled KTP generated blue light at 473 nm and 469 nm. Both single-pass extra-cavity as well as intracavity schemes have been investigated. Received: 31 July 2002 / Published online: 5 February 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +46-8/750-5430, E-mail: stefan.bjurshagen@acreo.se     

Laser performance and thermal lensing in high-power diode-pumped Yb:KGW with athermal orientation

A comparative, experimental study of the high-power diode-pumped laser performance and thermal lensing properties between standard b-cut Yb:KGW and Yb:KGW cut along an athermal direction is presented. The results show that thermal lens properties in both the b-cut and the athermal direction-cut crystals are determined by anisotropic thermal expansion in Yb:KGW. Thermal gradients due to the pump beam cause thermal lensing even in the athermal direction-cut geometry. The thermal lens is much weaker and less astigmatic in the athermal direction-cut crystal, for the same absorbed power. These properties allow generation of better-quality laser beams with the athermal direction-cut crystal as compared to the b-cut crystal. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Jf; 42.70.Hj