Abstract
The performance of the first diode-pumped Yb3+-doped Sr5(PO4)3F (Yb:S-FAP) laser is discussed. We found the pumping dynamics and extraction cross-sections of Yb:S-FAP crystals to be similar to those previously inferred by purely spectroscopic techniques. The saturation fluence for pumping was measured to be 2.2 J/cm2 using three different methods based on either the spatial, temporal, or energy transmission properties of a Yb:S-FAP rod. The small signal gain implies an emission cross section of 6.0×10−20 cm2 that falls within error bars of the previously reported value of 7.3×10−20 cm2, obtained from spectroscopic techniques. Up to 1.7 J/cm3 of stored energy density was achieved in a 6×6×44 mm Yb:S-FAP amplifier rod. An InGaAs diode array has been fabricated that has suitable specifications for pumping a 3×3×30 mm Yb:S-FAP rod. In a free running configuration diode-pumped slope efficiencies up to 43% were observed with output energies up to ~0.5 J per 1 ms pulse. When the rod was mounted in a copper block for cooling, 13 W of average power was produced with power supply limited operation at 70 Hz and 500 μs pulses.
© 1995 Optical Society of America
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