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20 mJ, 1 ps Yb:YAG Thin-disk Regenerative Amplifier
Published on: July 12, 2017
Sub-picosecond pulses at 100 W average power from a Yb:YLF chirped-pulse amplification system
Daniel E Miller1, Luis E Zapata, Daniel J Ripin
1Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 244 Wood St, Lexington, Massachusetts 02420, USA. daniel.miller@LL.mit.edu
Optics Letters
|June 30, 2012
Summary
We developed a powerful Yb:YLF laser system delivering 106 W average power. This high-repetition-frequency, diode-pumped chirped-pulse amplification system achieves excellent beam quality for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Laser Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- High-power lasers are crucial for scientific research and industrial applications.
- Cryogenic cooling enhances the performance of ytterbium-doped materials like Yb:YLF.
- Diode-pumping offers efficiency and reliability in laser systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-repetition-frequency, diode-pumped chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) system.
- To achieve high average output power and excellent beam quality using cryogenically cooled Yb:YLF.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser to generate 1 nJ seed pulses.
- Employed a regenerative amplifier to boost pulse energy to 1 mJ at 10 kHz.
- Implemented a second-stage multipass amplifier for further energy scaling.
- Compressed the amplified pulses to 865 fs.
Main Results:
- Achieved 106 W average output power.
- Maintained excellent beam quality with M(2)=1.3.
- Increased pulse energy to 10.6 mJ with a spectral width of 2.2 nm.
- Obtained a pulse duration of 865 fs, 1.26 times the transform limit.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a robust and efficient CPA system based on cryogenically cooled Yb:YLF.
- The system's high average power and excellent beam quality are suitable for demanding applications.
- This work advances the capabilities of high-power ultrafast laser technology.
