Diode pumped laser using crystals with strong thermal focussing

Details Diode pumped laser using crystals with strong thermal focussing Diode pumped laser using crystals with strong thermal focussing

1995-04-24

1996-11-19

Scott, Jr., Leon

Coherent light generators

Particular active media

372 75, 372 34, 372106, 372108, H01S 314

Patent

active

055770606

ABSTRACT:
A diode pumped laser includes a resonator mirror and an output coupler, defining a laser resonator with a resonator optical axis. A strong thermal lens laser crystal with a TEM.sub.00 mode diameter is mounted in the resonator along the resonator optical axis. A diode pump source supplies a pump beam to the laser crystal in the laser resonator, and produces an output beam with a diameter larger than the TEM.sub.00 mode diameter to reduce thermal birefringence. A power source supplies power to the diode pump source. A polarizing element can be positioned in the resonator, along with a aperture stop The laser operates well over a large range of pump powers. Its slope efficiency in the TEM.sub.00 mode is greater than 40%, with an overall efficiency greater than 25%. One of the lasing crystals used is Nd:YVO.sub.4. This material exhibits high gain and a short upper state lifetime. These properties make it attractive in designing a Q-switched laser, or one that is insensitive to optical feedback. Another material is Nd:YAG. The technique of optimizing the pump beam spot size is found to minimize loss due to thermal birefringence.

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