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Yb:YAG and Nd:YAG edge-pumped slab lasers
Optics Letters
|November 28, 2007
Summary
Two edge-pumped zigzag slab lasers were demonstrated. The Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser achieved 127 W output, while the Ytterbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Yb:YAG) laser yielded 46 W, showcasing efficient cooling and pump absorption.
Area of Science:
- Lasers and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Slab lasers offer advantages in thermal management and pump absorption.
- Edge-pumping configurations are being explored for improved laser performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate the performance of two edge-pumped zigzag slab lasers.
- To evaluate the output power and efficiency of Nd:YAG and Yb:YAG slab lasers using this configuration.
Main Methods:
- Construction and testing of two edge-pumped zigzag slab laser devices.
- Utilizing Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) and Ytterbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Yb:YAG) as gain media.
- Characterization of output power under specific pump power conditions.
Main Results:
- The Nd:YAG slab laser achieved 127 W of multimode output power with 300 W of pump power.
- The Yb:YAG slab laser produced 46 W of output power with 315 W of pump power.
- The edge-pumped design demonstrated symmetric conduction cooling and efficient pump absorption.
Conclusions:
- Edge-pumped zigzag slab laser designs are viable for high-power laser generation.
- The demonstrated designs allow for effective thermal management and efficient use of pump light.
- Further optimization could enhance the performance of both Nd:YAG and Yb:YAG systems.
