Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
10:17
20 mJ, 1 ps Yb:YAG Thin-disk Regenerative Amplifier
Published on: July 12, 2017
High-power near-diffraction-limited solid-state amplified spontaneous emission laser devices
G Smith1, P C Shardlow, M J Damzen
1The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, UK. gerald.smith00@imperial.ac.uk
Optics Letters
|July 3, 2007
Summary
We developed high-power amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) sources using Nd:YVO(4) bounce amplifiers. These sources offer robust, high-quality output power without precise alignment, reaching up to 30W.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Solid-State Optics
- Photonics
Background:
- Solid-state lasers require precise alignment, limiting their robustness.
- Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) sources offer potential for high power and misalignment tolerance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate high-power scaling of solid-state ASE laser sources.
- To evaluate the performance of Nd:YVO(4) bounce amplifiers for ASE generation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two high-gain Nd:YVO(4) bounce amplifiers.
- Configured amplifiers in a linear and a loop arrangement.
- Measured output power and spatial quality (M²).
Main Results:
- Achieved 24.5W output power with M²<2.5 (horizontal) and M²<1.2 (vertical) in a two-amplifier system.
- Demonstrated 30W ASE output with near-diffraction-limited quality (M²<1.3 horizontal, M²<1.2 vertical) in a loop configuration.
- Attained an ~38% optical-to-optical conversion efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Nd:YVO(4) bounce amplifiers enable high-power, high-quality ASE sources.
- ASE sources exhibit superior misalignment tolerance compared to traditional lasers.
- Loop configuration enhances output power and spatial quality for ASE sources.
