Highly efficient diode-stack, end-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser with symmetrized beam quality

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Optics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Continuous-wave (cw) high-power lasers are crucial for various scientific and industrial applications.
• Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers are widely used due to their excellent properties.
• Efficient pumping and beam quality control are key challenges in high-power laser development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient high-power cw Nd:YAG slab laser.
• To investigate the impact of intracavity polarization on laser efficiency.
• To introduce and evaluate a novel beam-shaping technique for improving laser beam quality.

Main Methods:

• Utilized diode-laser stacks for partial end-pumping of a Nd:YAG slab.
• Incorporated an intracavity Brewster plate for laser beam polarization.
• Implemented a step-mirror beam-shaping technique to equalize beam quality.

Main Results:

• Achieved an optical efficiency of 44% and a slope efficiency of 55% without polarization.
• Obtained an optical efficiency of 35% and a slope efficiency of 41% with intracavity polarization.
• Successfully equalized asymmetric beam quality using the step-mirror technique.

Conclusions:

• Demonstrated high efficiency for a diode-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser.
• Showcased the effectiveness of a novel beam-shaping technique for improving laser beam quality.
• The developed laser system and beam-shaping method offer potential for advanced optical applications.