Title :
High efficient cryogenically-cooled Yb:YAG Active-Mirror laser using Total-Reflection geometry
Author :
Furuse, H. ; Saiki, T. ; Fujita, M. ; Imasaki, K. ; Ishii, S. ; Takeshita, K. ; Miyanaga, N. ; Kawanaka, J.
Author_Institution :
Inst. for Laser Technol., Suita, Japan
Abstract :
we proposed a novel oscillator configuration called "TRAM" (Total-Reflection Active-Mirror) laser with a cryogenically cooled (under 100 K) Yb:YAG. We reported on TRAM laser experiments using a composite all-ceramics Yb:YAG, with no high-reflection coating and was directly cooled with liquid nitrogen. The obtained output power was 273 W with a slope efficiency of 72%, which to the best of our knowledge is the highest slope efficiency reported for high power laser systems from a 400 mum-thick Yb:YAG ceramic. For a laser diode spot size of 6 mm, the output power increased linearly over the whole diode pump power range. In this work, we investigated the limitation of the pump density for 180 mum, 400 mum, and 600 mum-thick Yb:YAG samples.
Keywords :
geometry; laser cooling; laser mirrors; light reflection; optical pumping; solid lasers; thermo-optical effects; ytterbium; TRAM; YAG:Yb; cryogenically-cooled active-mirror laser; efficiency 72 percent; high-reflection coating; liquid nitrogen; power 273 W; pump density; size 180 mum; size 400 mum; size 600 mum; total-reflection geometry; Ceramics; Coatings; Diode lasers; Geometrical optics; Laser excitation; Nitrogen; Oscillators; Power generation; Power lasers; Pump lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics 2009 and the European Quantum Electronics Conference. CLEO Europe - EQEC 2009. European Conference on
Conference_Location :
Munich
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4079-5
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4080-1
DOI :
10.1109/CLEOE-EQEC.2009.5192904
