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Optical Materials Express

Optical Materials Express

  • Editor: David J. Hagan
  • Vol. 1, Iss. 3 — Jul. 1, 2011
  • pp: 434–450

Optics InfoBase > Optical Materials Express > Volume 1 > Issue 3 > Page 434

Cryogenic Yb3+-doped materials for pulsed solid-state laser applications [Invited]

Darren Rand, Daniel Miller, Daniel J. Ripin, and Tso Yee Fan  »View Author Affiliations


Optical Materials Express, Vol. 1, Issue 3, pp. 434-450 (2011)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OME.1.000434


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Abstract

We review recent progress in pulsed lasers using cryogenically-cooled Yb3+-doped gain media, with an emphasis on high average power. Recent measurements of thermo-optic properties for various host materials at both room and cryogenic temperature are presented, including thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion and refractive index. Host materials reviewed include Y2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3, YLF, YSO, GSAG and YVO4. We report on the performance of several cryogenic Yb lasers operating at 5-kHz pulse repetition frequency (PRF). A Q-switched Yb:YAG laser is shown to operate at 114-W average power, with 16-ns pulse duration. A chirped pulse amplifier achieves 115-W output using a Yb:YAG power amplifier. Output power of 73 W is obtained from a composite Yb:YAG/Yb:GSAG amplifier, with pulses that compress to 1.6 ps. Finally, a high-average-power femtosecond laser based on Yb:YLF is discussed, with results for a 10-W regenerative amplifier at 10-kHZ PRF.

© 2011 OSA

OCIS Codes
(140.3380) Lasers and laser optics : Laser materials
(140.3480) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, diode-pumped
(140.3538) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, pulsed
(140.3615) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, ytterbium

ToC Category:
Laser Materials

History
Original Manuscript: June 6, 2011
Revised Manuscript: June 21, 2011
Manuscript Accepted: June 23, 2011
Published: June 24, 2011

Virtual Issues
Advances in Optical Materials (2011) Optical Materials Express
(2011) Advances in Optics and Photonics

Citation
Darren Rand, Daniel Miller, Daniel J. Ripin, and Tso Yee Fan, "Cryogenic Yb3+-doped materials for pulsed solid-state laser applications [Invited]," Opt. Mater. Express 1, 434-450 (2011)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ome/abstract.cfm?URI=ome-1-3-434


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