Efficient Nd:YAG laser end pumped by a high-power multistripe laser-diode bar with multiprism array coupling

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Diode-pumped solid-state lasers are crucial for various applications.
• Efficient end-pumping architectures are sought for high-power laser systems.
• Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) is a widely used laser medium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the performance of a 10-W laser-diode bar for end-pumping Nd:YAG.
• To characterize the output power, efficiency, and beam quality of the pumped Nd:YAG laser.
• To evaluate the feasibility of acousto-optic Q-switched operation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 10-W multistripe monolithic laser-diode array for end-pumping.
• Employed a multiprism array to collimate twelve diode beams for pumping the Nd:YAG facet.
• Measured continuous-wave (cw) output power at 1064 nm and beam quality (M²).
• Performed acousto-optic Q-switched operation at a 1-kHz repetition rate.

Main Results:

• Achieved a maximum cw output power of 3 W at 1064 nm with a 10-W diode-bar pump power.
• Obtained a slope efficiency of 35%.
• Demonstrated a TEM(00) spatial mode with M² values of 1.29 and 1.76.
• Generated pulses with a width of 25.2 ns in Q-switched operation.

Conclusions:

• The 10-W laser-diode bar is an effective tool for end-pumping Nd:YAG.
• The system exhibits good efficiency and high beam quality suitable for various applications.
• Acousto-optic Q-switching enables pulsed operation with nanosecond pulse durations.