Approach for power scaling solid-state lasers with intracavity motion

Solid-state lasers are typically limited by adverse thermal effects within the gain medium. In this Letter we describe a new method for dramatically reducing thermal effects in an end-pumped solid-state laser by incorporating a rotating intracavity periscope in the resonator to spatially separate th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 2017-02, Vol.42 (4), p.775-778
Main Authors: Eckold, Matthew, Mackenzie, Jacob I, Clarkson, W Andrew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Feasibility analysis
Gain
Lasers
Lasing
Periscopes
Scaling
Solid state lasers
Temperature effects
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Summary:Solid-state lasers are typically limited by adverse thermal effects within the gain medium. In this Letter we describe a new method for dramatically reducing thermal effects in an end-pumped solid-state laser by incorporating a rotating intracavity periscope in the resonator to spatially separate the lasing and thermal processes. In contrast with previous examples of moving solid-state lasers, our approach keeps the gain medium stationary, simplifying the heat removal arrangement. This scheme has been applied to an Nd:YAG laser, yielding an output power of 120 W at 1.064 μm, limited by available pump power. Analysis suggests that scaling to much higher power is feasible with the appropriate laser design.
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.42.000775