High-power and high-efficiency operation of a CW-diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG rod laser

Author

Fujikawa, Shuichi ; Kojima, Tetsuo ; Yasui, Koji

Author_Institution

Adv. Technol. Res. & Dev. Center, Mitsubishi Electr. Corp., Hyogo, Japan

Volume

3

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

2/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

40

Lastpage

44

Abstract

We have demonstrated high-power and high efficiency performance of a continuous-wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser with a simple and scalable side-pumping configuration. The maximum output power of 147 W was obtained in low brightness operation of M²=45. The corresponding electric efficiency is 14.8%. To our knowledge, this is the highest value reported for diode side-pumped Nd:YAG lasers. By using a rate and photon transport calculation, we have estimated the pumping efficiency of 72%. High brightness operation was also carried out by applying bifocusing compensation of the Nd:YAG rod. The brightness of 272 MW/cm² sr with beam quality of M²=5.9 and output power of 107 W was obtained at the electric efficiency of 11.6%. The brightness and the electric efficiency are comparable with those of industrial high-power CO₂ lasers that have been the first option for industrial applications

Keywords

brightness; laser beam applications; laser beams; neodymium; optical pumping; solid lasers; 1.6 percent; 107 W; 14.8 percent; 147 W; 72 percent; CW-diode-side-pumped Nd:YAG rod laser; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; beam quality; bifocusing compensation; continuous-wave; electric efficiency; high brightness operation; high-efficiency operation; high-power laser; industrial high-power CO₂ lasers; low brightness operation; maximum output power; output power; photon transport calculation; pumping efficiency; scalable side-pumping configuration; Brightness; Fiber lasers; Geometrical optics; Laser beam cutting; Laser beams; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Pump lasers; Semiconductor lasers; Solid lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2944.585812

Filename

585812