High-repetition rate 1-J green laser system

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• High-Power Lasers
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• High-average-power laser systems are crucial for scientific research and industrial applications.
• Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems require robust and efficient pumping sources.
• Nd:YAG lasers are commonly used for pumping but often lack the required repetition rate or energy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-repetition-rate laser-diode-pumped Nd:YAG oscillator-amplifier system.
• To utilize this system as a pumping source for a terawatt Ti:sapphire CPA laser.
• To achieve high-energy fundamental and frequency-doubled laser pulses at 100 Hz.

Main Methods:

• Development of a zigzag slab Nd:YAG oscillator-amplifier.
• Pumping the Nd:YAG system with laser diodes for high efficiency.
• Utilizing a diffusion-bonded KTP crystal for frequency doubling.
• Integration with a Ti:sapphire CPA system.

Main Results:

• Generation of >2-J fundamental laser pulses at 100 Hz repetition rate.
• Achieved 1-J frequency-doubled pulses using a KTP crystal at 100 Hz.
• Demonstrated a high-average-power pumping source for terawatt-class lasers.

Conclusions:

• The developed Nd:YAG laser system is a viable high-energy, high-repetition-rate pumping source.
• This system enables efficient pumping of high-average-power terawatt Ti:sapphire CPA lasers.
• The results pave the way for advanced applications requiring high-power ultrashort laser pulses.