300 W continuous-wave operation of a diode edge-pumped, hybrid composite Yb:YAG microchip laser

Abstract

$300\mathrm{W}$ continuous-wave operation of a diode edge-pumped, hybrid (single-crystal/ceramic) composite, ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}:\mathrm{YAG}$ microchip laser with a $5\mathrm{mm}$ diameter and $300\mu \mathrm{m}$ thickness single-crystal core uniformly bonded to a water-cooled heat sink by a new Au–Sn soldering system has been demonstrated. The beam quality factor $M^2$ follows the mode mismatch between the core and the fundamental mode and was improved to 17 with a maximum output power of $230\mathrm{W}$. A thermally induced convex mirror with a spherical radius of curvature ranging from $-2.5$ to $-1.5\mathrm{m}$ was observed; the radius of curvature decreases through thermal deformation of the microchip as the pump power increases.

© 2006 Optical Society of America