Abstract

We present a new geometry for edge-pumping of a solid-state microchip laser. This design, which consists of a thin-disk gain crystal that has on top a diffusion bonded undoped material that guides the pump light, allows a good thermal heat management by reducing the thickness of the gain media, whereas the pump optics is kept simple. Simulations show that more than 0.95 of the pump radiation with uniformity coefficient in excess of 0.95 can be absorbed in an Yb:YAG/YAG composite device that has a 200-μm thick, 15-at.% Yb:YAG of 3.6-mm diameter. First experiments with this configuration produced on-time 34 W output power for 220 W on-time pump power and 0.26 slope efficiency. Power scaling possibilities are discussed.

©2006 Optical Society of America

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References

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  1. A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
    [Crossref]
  2. C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
    [Crossref]
  3. D. C. Brown, R. Bowman, J. Kuper, K. K. Lee, and J. Menders, “High average power active-mirror amplifier,” Appl. Opt. 25, 612–618 (1986).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  4. T. Dascalu, T. Taira, and N. Pavel, “Thermo-optical effects in high-power diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:YAG laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS Europe 2003, CA8-3, Munchen, Germany, June 22–27, 2003.
  5. T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, and T. Taira, “90 W continuous-wave diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:Y3Al5O12 laser,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4086–4088 (2003).
    [Crossref]
  6. M. Tsunekane, T. Dascalu, and T. Taira, “High-power diode-edge pumped single-crystal Yb:YAG/ceramic YAG composite microchip Yb:YAG laser for material processing,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2005, CTuZ3, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, May 22–27, 2005.
  7. L. E. Zapata, S. M. Massey, R. J. Beach, and S. A. Payne, “High average power Yb:YAG laser,” presented at Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21–25, 2001.
  8. S. Yamamoto, T. Yanagisawa, and Y. Hirano, “High power continuous-wave operation of side-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2004, CWO3, San Francisco, CA USA May 16–21, 2004.
  9. A. Kemp, G. I. Valentine, and D. Burns, “Progress towards high-power, high-brightness neodymium-based thin-disk lasers,” Progress in Quantum Electron. 28, 305–344 (2004).
    [Crossref]
  10. A. Cousins, “Temperature and thermal stress scaling in finite-length end-pumped laser rods,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 28, 1057–1069 (1992).
    [Crossref]

2004 (1)

A. Kemp, G. I. Valentine, and D. Burns, “Progress towards high-power, high-brightness neodymium-based thin-disk lasers,” Progress in Quantum Electron. 28, 305–344 (2004).
[Crossref]

2003 (1)

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, and T. Taira, “90 W continuous-wave diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:Y3Al5O12 laser,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4086–4088 (2003).
[Crossref]

2000 (1)

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

1994 (1)

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

1992 (1)

A. Cousins, “Temperature and thermal stress scaling in finite-length end-pumped laser rods,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 28, 1057–1069 (1992).
[Crossref]

1986 (1)

Beach, R. J.

L. E. Zapata, S. M. Massey, R. J. Beach, and S. A. Payne, “High average power Yb:YAG laser,” presented at Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21–25, 2001.

Bowman, R.

Brauch, U.

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

Brown, D. C.

Burns, D.

A. Kemp, G. I. Valentine, and D. Burns, “Progress towards high-power, high-brightness neodymium-based thin-disk lasers,” Progress in Quantum Electron. 28, 305–344 (2004).
[Crossref]

Contag, K.

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

Cousins, A.

A. Cousins, “Temperature and thermal stress scaling in finite-length end-pumped laser rods,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 28, 1057–1069 (1992).
[Crossref]

Dascalu, T.

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, and T. Taira, “90 W continuous-wave diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:Y3Al5O12 laser,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4086–4088 (2003).
[Crossref]

M. Tsunekane, T. Dascalu, and T. Taira, “High-power diode-edge pumped single-crystal Yb:YAG/ceramic YAG composite microchip Yb:YAG laser for material processing,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2005, CTuZ3, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, May 22–27, 2005.

T. Dascalu, T. Taira, and N. Pavel, “Thermo-optical effects in high-power diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:YAG laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS Europe 2003, CA8-3, Munchen, Germany, June 22–27, 2003.

Giesen, A.

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

Hirano, Y.

S. Yamamoto, T. Yanagisawa, and Y. Hirano, “High power continuous-wave operation of side-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2004, CWO3, San Francisco, CA USA May 16–21, 2004.

Hugel, H.

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

Kemp, A.

A. Kemp, G. I. Valentine, and D. Burns, “Progress towards high-power, high-brightness neodymium-based thin-disk lasers,” Progress in Quantum Electron. 28, 305–344 (2004).
[Crossref]

Kuper, J.

Larionov, M.

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

Lee, K. K.

Massey, S. M.

L. E. Zapata, S. M. Massey, R. J. Beach, and S. A. Payne, “High average power Yb:YAG laser,” presented at Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21–25, 2001.

Menders, J.

Opower, H.

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

Pavel, N.

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, and T. Taira, “90 W continuous-wave diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:Y3Al5O12 laser,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4086–4088 (2003).
[Crossref]

T. Dascalu, T. Taira, and N. Pavel, “Thermo-optical effects in high-power diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:YAG laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS Europe 2003, CA8-3, Munchen, Germany, June 22–27, 2003.

Payne, S. A.

L. E. Zapata, S. M. Massey, R. J. Beach, and S. A. Payne, “High average power Yb:YAG laser,” presented at Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21–25, 2001.

Stewen, C.

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

Taira, T.

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, and T. Taira, “90 W continuous-wave diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:Y3Al5O12 laser,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4086–4088 (2003).
[Crossref]

M. Tsunekane, T. Dascalu, and T. Taira, “High-power diode-edge pumped single-crystal Yb:YAG/ceramic YAG composite microchip Yb:YAG laser for material processing,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2005, CTuZ3, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, May 22–27, 2005.

T. Dascalu, T. Taira, and N. Pavel, “Thermo-optical effects in high-power diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:YAG laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS Europe 2003, CA8-3, Munchen, Germany, June 22–27, 2003.

Tsunekane, M.

M. Tsunekane, T. Dascalu, and T. Taira, “High-power diode-edge pumped single-crystal Yb:YAG/ceramic YAG composite microchip Yb:YAG laser for material processing,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2005, CTuZ3, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, May 22–27, 2005.

Valentine, G. I.

A. Kemp, G. I. Valentine, and D. Burns, “Progress towards high-power, high-brightness neodymium-based thin-disk lasers,” Progress in Quantum Electron. 28, 305–344 (2004).
[Crossref]

Voss, A.

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

Wittig, K.

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

Yamamoto, S.

S. Yamamoto, T. Yanagisawa, and Y. Hirano, “High power continuous-wave operation of side-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2004, CWO3, San Francisco, CA USA May 16–21, 2004.

Yanagisawa, T.

S. Yamamoto, T. Yanagisawa, and Y. Hirano, “High power continuous-wave operation of side-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2004, CWO3, San Francisco, CA USA May 16–21, 2004.

Zapata, L. E.

L. E. Zapata, S. M. Massey, R. J. Beach, and S. A. Payne, “High average power Yb:YAG laser,” presented at Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21–25, 2001.

Appl. Opt. (1)

Appl. Phys. Lett. (1)

T. Dascalu, N. Pavel, and T. Taira, “90 W continuous-wave diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:Y3Al5O12 laser,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 4086–4088 (2003).
[Crossref]

Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics (1)

A. Giesen, H. Hugel, A. Voss, K. Wittig, U. Brauch, and H. Opower, “Scalable concept for diode-pumped high-power solid-state lasers,” Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 58, 365–372 (1994).
[Crossref]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron. (1)

A. Cousins, “Temperature and thermal stress scaling in finite-length end-pumped laser rods,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 28, 1057–1069 (1992).
[Crossref]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. (1)

C. Stewen, K. Contag, M. Larionov, A. Giesen, and H. Hugel, “A 1-kW CW thin disc laser,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 650–657 (2000).
[Crossref]

Progress in Quantum Electron. (1)

A. Kemp, G. I. Valentine, and D. Burns, “Progress towards high-power, high-brightness neodymium-based thin-disk lasers,” Progress in Quantum Electron. 28, 305–344 (2004).
[Crossref]

Other (4)

T. Dascalu, T. Taira, and N. Pavel, “Thermo-optical effects in high-power diode edge-pumped microchip composite Yb:YAG laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS Europe 2003, CA8-3, Munchen, Germany, June 22–27, 2003.

M. Tsunekane, T. Dascalu, and T. Taira, “High-power diode-edge pumped single-crystal Yb:YAG/ceramic YAG composite microchip Yb:YAG laser for material processing,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2005, CTuZ3, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, May 22–27, 2005.

L. E. Zapata, S. M. Massey, R. J. Beach, and S. A. Payne, “High average power Yb:YAG laser,” presented at Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 21–25, 2001.

S. Yamamoto, T. Yanagisawa, and Y. Hirano, “High power continuous-wave operation of side-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser,” Conference Digest of CLEO/QELS 2004, CWO3, San Francisco, CA USA May 16–21, 2004.

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Figures (7)

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Ray tracing trough the Yb:YAG/YAG microchip laser: (a) side, and (b) top view. Red line shows a ray propagation by TIR in the laser.

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Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. A view of the composite Yb:YAG/YAG microchip laser on the top of the cooling system and the laser resonator.

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Fig. 3.
Fig. 3. (a) Ray tracing numerical simulation of pump beam absorption distribution. (b) the fluorescence image of Yb:YAG core, under pumping by three diodes with 0.39mm 3.6mm pump spot size.

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Fig. 4.
Fig. 4. (a) Uniformity factor vs undoped cap diameter. (b) Absorption efficiency vs figure of merit F.

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Fig. 5.
Fig. 5. (a) Absorption efficiency versus undoped cap diameter. (b) Absorption efficiency vs cap diameter for two cap thickness values: 0.6 mm and 1mm

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Fig. 6.
Fig. 6. (a) The FEA calculated temperature of the Yb:YAG upper surface vs. the pump power for two different heat sinks materials (b) The FEA calculated temperature of the Yb:YAG upper surface vs. the pump power for different Yb:YAG thicknesses.

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Fig. 7.
Fig. 7. On-time output power obtained from the 15-at.% Yb:YAG /YAG laser under pumping with three fiber-coupled diode laser.

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