High power harmonically mode-locked cw-pumped Nd:YAG laser.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Continuous-wave (cw) pumped solid-state lasers are crucial for various applications.
• Achieving high peak powers in such lasers often involves complex or expensive configurations.
• Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers are widely used due to their favorable properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-power, stable pulsed laser system using readily available components.
• To investigate the performance limits of a novel cavity design for Nd:YAG lasers.
• To report the highest peak powers achieved for a single-lamp cw-pumped Nd:YAG laser.

Main Methods:

• Configuration of a new laser cavity utilizing commercially available parts.
• Incorporation of a harmonic mode locker into the cavity design.
• Characterization of pulse width and average output power under continuous-wave pumping.

Main Results:

• Stable generation of 60-picosecond (ps) laser pulses.
• Achieved an average output power of 14 Watts (W).
• Demonstrated the capability to reach up to 20 W average power by adjusting pulse width, yielding record peak powers for this laser type.

Conclusions:

• The developed cavity configuration offers a practical and effective method for generating high-power pulsed laser output.
• The system represents a significant advancement in peak power for single-lamp cw-pumped Nd:YAG lasers.
• Commercial components can be effectively utilized to achieve state-of-the-art laser performance.