Abstract

We report what we believe to be the highest accomplished second-harmonic conversion efficiency of a zigzag slab laser. High conversion efficiency of the output of a zigzag Nd-doped glass slab laser poses a unique set of constraints that can be utilized to advantage in the design of a second-harmonic generator. The zigzag slab amplifier beam has an aspect ratio of 20:1 with a single pulse energy of ≈22 J in a ≈12-ns pulse width FWHM and is capable of average power operation at the 200-W level. The design of a suitable doubler must provide for high single pulse conversion and maintain this under high average power operation,¹ The choice of a nonlinear material is limited primarily by the size of the beam and the damage threshold of available materials.

© 1992 Optical Society of America