Adjustable and stable beam profile generation in a Yb:YAG thin-disk laser

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Thin-disk lasers are crucial for high-power applications.
• Controlling laser beam profiles is essential for various optical technologies.
• Existing methods for beam profile control can be complex or limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a Yb:YAG thin-disk laser with an adjustable and stable beam profile.
• To demonstrate continuous tunability of the laser's spatial modes.
• To improve thermal management and minimize depolarization loss in thin-disk lasers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a double-cavity geometry with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM).
• Spatially separated gain areas for LG00 and LG01 mode generation.
• Adjusted the AOM loss to control beam profile characteristics.

Main Results:

• Achieved adjustable beam profiles from annular to flat-top continuously.
• Obtained 8.5 W annular, 11.1 W shallow crater-shaped, and 12.1 W flat-topped modes at 44 W input pump power.
• Demonstrated improved thermal management and minimized depolarization loss via a multi-pass pumping scheme.

Conclusions:

• A high-power laser with an adjustable and stable beam profile can be implemented using the presented scheme.
• The double-cavity design with AOM offers precise control over laser beam characteristics.
• This technology has potential for advanced laser applications requiring tailored beam profiles.