Abstract

A new, highly efficient, scalable technique for cw high-power diode-array side pumping of gain media has been developed. The use of simple all-reflective optics permits diode emission collection efficiencies of >95%. We have achieved a cw TEM₀₀ mode output (M² < 1.1) of 13.1 W at 1.06 μm from a Nd:YAG rod pumped with 60 W of laser-diode output (808 nm), representing 22% conversion efficiency (29% conversion of absorbed pump power). Numerical simulations and experimental results indicate that good thermal management results in thermally induced aberrations of <λ/8 across the rod.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

7.6 W of continuous-wave radiation in a TEM₀₀ mode from a laser-diode end-pumped Nd:YAG laser

Yushi Kaneda, Michio Oka, Hisashi Masuda, and Shigeo Kubota
Opt. Lett. 17(14) 1003-1005 (1992)

Highly efficient TEM₀₀ operation of transversely diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers

Larry R. Marshall, A. Kaz, and R. L. Burnham
Opt. Lett. 17(3) 186-188 (1992)

Thermal lens correction of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser of high TEM₀₀ power by an adjustable-curvature mirror

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Continuous-wave TEM₀₀-mode 26.5-W-output virtual-point-source diode-array-pumped Nd:YAG laser

N. Uehara, K. Nakahara, and K. Ueda
Opt. Lett. 20(16) 1707-1709 (1995)

Efficient TEM₀₀-mode operation of a laser-diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser

D. Welford, D. M. Rines, and B. J. Dinerman
Opt. Lett. 16(23) 1850-1852 (1991)