Diode-laser edge-pumped Nd:YAG/YAG lens-shaped composite laser. (1st September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grigore, Oana Valeria; Croitoru, Gabriela; Dascalu, Traian; Pavel, Nicolaie
• Is Part Of: Optics & laser technology. Volume 94(2017)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2017-09-01
• Subjects: Lasers and laser optics -- Lasers, diode pumped -- Lasers, neodymium -- Pumping; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2017.03.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-3992

Abstract

Highlights: A novel laser configuration that uses a Nd:YAG/YAG composite medium is proposed. The Nd:YAG/YAG is shaped like a plane-concave lens. The pump is done directly from the diode laser fiber, with no additional optics. Laser pulses with 31.8 mJ energy are obtained at 2 Hz; optical efficiency was 0.28. Operation at high repetition rate is expected by metallic soldering of Nd:YAG/YAG. Abstract: A laser configuration made of a thin-disk Nd:YAG/YAG composite medium that consists of a circular Nd:YAG core bonded by diffusion to a circular undoped YAG and that has the shape of a plane-concave lens is presented. The pump is done through the undoped YAG edge, in a three-fold scheme, directly from the diode-laser optical fibers. Such a laser was built employing a Nd:YAG/YAG ceramics made of a 1.0-at.% Nd:YAG core of 2.0-mm diameter surrounded by a 10 mm in diameter YAG. The thickness was 180 μm at the center of Nd:YAG and 500 μm at the YAG edge. The Nd:YAG/YAG medium was attached to a water-cooled copper finger. At 2 Hz repetition rate the laser yielded pulses at 1.06 μm with energy Ep = 31.8 mJ under the pump at 807 nm with total energy Epump = 114.6 mJ; the slope efficiency was 0.31. A decrease of laser pulse energy with the repetition rate was observed. This indicates that a better thermal management, which could be made through metallic bonding of Nd:YAG/YAG to the cooling system, is necessary.