Open AccessZig-zag active-mirror laser with cryogenic Yb^3+:YAG/YAG composite ceramics
Author(s) -
Hiroaki Furuse,
Junji Kawanaka,
Noriaki Miyanaga,
Taku Saiki,
K. Imasaki,
Masayuki Fujita,
Kenji Takeshita,
Shuji Ishii,
Yasukazu Izawa
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.002448
Subject(s) - optics , laser , materials science , ceramic , composite number , reflection (computer programming) , amplifier , ytterbium , laser power scaling , diode pumped solid state laser , optoelectronics , physics , cmos , computer science , composite material , programming language
We report on a novel amplifier configuration concept for a 10 kW laser system using a zig-zag optical path based on a cryogenic Yb:YAG Total-Reflection Active-Mirror (TRAM) laser. The laser material is a compact composite ceramic, in which three Yb:YAG TRAMs are combined in series to increase the output power. Output powers of up to 214 W with a slope efficiency of 63% have been demonstrated for CW operation, even at a quite low pump intensity of less than 170 W/cm2. Further scaling could achieve output powers of more than 10 kW.