Abstract
We have developed configurations of diode-bar-pumped Nd:YAG lasers that generate up to 11 W of average power in a polarized, TEM00 mode (M2~1.1) with ~35% optical conversion efficiency. To our knowledge, this is the highest conversion efficiency reported to date for a diode-pumped, polarized TEM00 Nd:YAG laser with over 10 W output power. Acousto-optically Q-switched output at the 11 W level (20 kHz) has also been achieved with the same efficiency. Conversion efficiency is a driving force in the design of diode-pumped solid-state lasers, because a high conversion efficiency minimizes the number of diodes required to reliably meet the needs of an application and maximizes diode lifetime for a given laser output power. The Nd:YAG laser design utilizes two fiber-coupled 20 W diode bars, with each diode derated in order to meet lifetime requirements of industrial applications. We have previously reported high-power, high-efficiency results with Nd:YVO4 as the active medium.1 In each case, we find that end-pumped lasers can be configured in a way that provides high-power, excellent beam quality, and high efficiency in spite of thermal birefringence and large phase distortions presented by the strong thermal focusing that results from end-pumping.
© 1996 Optical Society of America
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