High-power and low-intensity noise laser at 1064  nm

We have developed a single-frequency, narrow-linewidth (Δν<50  kHz) laser operating at 1064 nm with a high output power (50 W). The laser is based on an ytterbium-doped fiber master oscillator power amplifier architecture with an output beam at the diffraction limit. An output power of 50 W is obtained with two amplification stages using a 50 mW diode laser seeder. We have carefully studied the relative intensity noise at each amplification stage. The detrimental effect due to stimulated Brillouin scattering on residual amplitude noise has been observed on the high-power booster stage. After careful optimization, this laser exhibits low intensity noise with a RMS value equal to 0.012% (1 kHz/10 MHz) at 50 W.