Widely tunable Yb:KYW laser with a volume Bragg grating

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Yb:KYW (ytterbium-doped potassium tungstate) lasers are valuable for spectroscopy.
• Achieving narrow bandwidth and wide tunability is crucial for advanced laser applications.
• Volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) offer precise wavelength selection in laser systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a continuously tunable Yb:KYW laser.
• To investigate the performance of a VBG-based tuning mechanism.
• To achieve narrow bandwidth and high output power.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Yb:KYW crystal in a laser cavity.
• Employed a volume Bragg grating (VBG) at oblique incidence for wavelength tuning.
• Configured the VBG in a retroreflector setup.
• Measured tuning range, bandwidth, and output power.

Main Results:

• Achieved a continuous tuning range from 997 nm to 1050 nm (15 THz).
• Maintained a narrow bandwidth of less than 0.1 nm.
• Reached a maximum output power of 4.7 W.
• Demonstrated 1.7 W output power in a high-quality beam (M(2) < 1.3).
• Achieved 3 W output power at 1064 nm with normal incidence VBG.

Conclusions:

• The VBG-locked Yb:KYW laser provides a versatile platform for tunable laser generation.
• Oblique incidence VBG configuration enables broad tuning range and narrow bandwidth.
• The laser system shows potential for applications requiring precise wavelength control.