Title :
Compact Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 amplifiers end-pumped by a high-brightness stacked array
Author :
Brignon, Arnaud ; Feugnet, G. ; Huignard, Jean-Pierre ; Pocholle, J.P.
Author_Institution :
Lab. Central de Recherches, Thomson-CSF, Orsay, France
fDate :
3/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We analyze both theoretically and experimentally the performances of compact laser amplifiers longitudinally pumped by a high-brightness stacked array. Results are given for Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 as the active media. A model of amplification which takes into account the particular pumping configuration is presented to fit the experimental results. With less than 5-mm-long crystals, single-pass small-signal gain-length products of ~1.6 on a 1.5 mm ×1.5 mm aperture are demonstrated with optical-to-optical extraction efficiency of ~25%. The influences of the amplified spontaneous emission, crystal orientations, pump beam characteristics, and standing wave grating on the gain are also analyzed
Keywords :
brightness; laser arrays; neodymium; optical pumping; solid lasers; 1.5 mm; 25 percent; 5 mm; Nd:YAG laser amplifiers; Nd:YVO4 laser amplifiers; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; YVO4:Nd; active media; amplified spontaneous emission; crystal orientations; end-pumped; high-brightness stacked array; longitudinally pumped; optical-to-optical extraction efficiency; pump beam characteristics; pumping configuration; single-pass small-signal gain-length products; standing wave grating; Apertures; Crystals; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical amplifiers; Optical arrays; Performance analysis; Pump lasers; Stimulated emission;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
