Self-compensating amplifier design for cw and Q-switched high-power Nd:YAG lasers

doi:10.1364/OE.14.002191

Self-compensating amplifier design for cw and Q-switched high-power Nd:YAG lasers

Michelle Roth, Valerio Romano, T. Feurer, and Thomas Graf »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 14, Issue 6, pp. 2191-2196 (2006)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.14.002191

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Abstract
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References (13)
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Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate a self-adaptive compensation of the pump power dependent thermal lens in an Nd:YAG laser through a thin layer of a medium with a negative temperature dependence of the refractive index. The layer is thermally coupled to the laser rod and leads to a strikingly improved beam quality over a large stability range. The scheme allows for a scaling to high powers as well as pulsed-mode operation.

OCIS Codes
(140.3480) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, diode-pumped
(140.3530) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, neodymium
(140.3540) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, Q-switched
(140.3580) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, solid-state
(140.6810) Lasers and laser optics : Thermal effects

ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics

History
Original Manuscript: November 18, 2005
Revised Manuscript: January 26, 2006
Manuscript Accepted: March 2, 2006
Published: March 20, 2006

Citation
Michelle Roth, Valerio Romano, T. Feurer, and Thomas Graf, "Self-compensating amplifier design for cw and Q-switched high-power Nd:YAG lasers," Opt. Express 14, 2191-2196 (2006)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-14-6-2191

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References

J.D. Foster and L.M. Osternink, "Thermal Effects in a Nd:YAG Laser," J. Appl. Phys. 41,3656-3663 (1970). [CrossRef]
W. Koechner, Solid-State Laser Engineering, (Springer, Berlin, 1999).
N. Hodgson and H. Weber, Optical Resonators, (Springer, Berlin, 1997).
H. Glur, R. Lavi and T. Graf, "Reduction of thermally induced lenses in Nd:YAG with low temperatures," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 40,499-504 (2004). [CrossRef]
U.J. Greiner and H.H. Klingenberg, "Thermal lens correction of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser of high TEM00 power by an adjustable-curvature mirror," Opt. Lett. 19,1207-1209 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A.V. Kudryashov, "Intracavity laser beam control," in Laser Resonators II. 1999 San Jose, A.V. Kudryashov, ed., Proc. SPIE 3611, 32-41 (1999). [CrossRef]
S. Jackel, I. Moshe and R. Lavi, "High performance oscillators employing adaptive optics comprised of discrete elements," in Laser Resonators II. 1999 San Jose, A.V. Kudryashov, ed., Proc. SPIE 3611, 42-49 (1999). [CrossRef]
D.C. Hanna, C.G. Sawyers and M.A. Yuratich, "Telescopic resonators for large-volume TEM00 mode operation," Opt. Quantum Electron. 13,493-507 (1981). [CrossRef]
R. Koch, "Self-adaptive optical elements for compensation of thermal lensing effects in diode end-pumped solid state lasers - proposal and preliminary experiments," Opt. Commun. 140,158-164 (1997). [CrossRef]
R. Weber, T. Graf and H.P. Weber, "Self-Adjusting Compensating Thermal Lens to Balance the Thermally Induced Lens in Solid-State Lasers," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 36,757-764 (2000). [CrossRef]
E. Wyss, M.S. Roth, T. Graf and H.P. Weber, "Thermo-optical compensation methods for high-power lasers," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38,1620-1628 (2002). [CrossRef]
T. Graf, E. Wyss and H.P. Weber, "Self-adaptive compensation for the thermal lens in high-power lasers,"in Advanced Solid-State Lasers, Ch. Marshall, ed., Vol. 50 of OSA Trends in Optics and Photonics Series (Optical Society of America, 2001), pp. 688-692.
M. S. Roth, E. Wyss, H. Glur, and H.P. Weber, "Generation of radially polarized beams in a Nd:YAG laser with self-adaptive overcompensation of the thermal lens," Opt. Lett. 30,1665-1667 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

H. Glur, R. Lavi and T. Graf, "Reduction of thermally induced lenses in Nd:YAG with low temperatures," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 40,499-504 (2004). [CrossRef]
R. Weber, T. Graf and H.P. Weber, "Self-Adjusting Compensating Thermal Lens to Balance the Thermally Induced Lens in Solid-State Lasers," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 36,757-764 (2000). [CrossRef]
E. Wyss, M.S. Roth, T. Graf and H.P. Weber, "Thermo-optical compensation methods for high-power lasers," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38,1620-1628 (2002). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

J.D. Foster and L.M. Osternink, "Thermal Effects in a Nd:YAG Laser," J. Appl. Phys. 41,3656-3663 (1970). [CrossRef]

Opt. Commun.

R. Koch, "Self-adaptive optical elements for compensation of thermal lensing effects in diode end-pumped solid state lasers - proposal and preliminary experiments," Opt. Commun. 140,158-164 (1997). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

Opt. Quantum Electron.

D.C. Hanna, C.G. Sawyers and M.A. Yuratich, "Telescopic resonators for large-volume TEM00 mode operation," Opt. Quantum Electron. 13,493-507 (1981). [CrossRef]

Other

W. Koechner, Solid-State Laser Engineering, (Springer, Berlin, 1999).
N. Hodgson and H. Weber, Optical Resonators, (Springer, Berlin, 1997).
A.V. Kudryashov, "Intracavity laser beam control," in Laser Resonators II. 1999 San Jose, A.V. Kudryashov, ed., Proc. SPIE 3611, 32-41 (1999). [CrossRef]
S. Jackel, I. Moshe and R. Lavi, "High performance oscillators employing adaptive optics comprised of discrete elements," in Laser Resonators II. 1999 San Jose, A.V. Kudryashov, ed., Proc. SPIE 3611, 42-49 (1999). [CrossRef]
T. Graf, E. Wyss and H.P. Weber, "Self-adaptive compensation for the thermal lens in high-power lasers,"in Advanced Solid-State Lasers, Ch. Marshall, ed., Vol. 50 of OSA Trends in Optics and Photonics Series (Optical Society of America, 2001), pp. 688-692.

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