Open AccessPower-scaling of nonlinear-mirror modelocked thin-disk lasers
Author(s) -
I. J. Graumann,
Francesco Saltarelli,
Lukas Lang,
Valentin J. Wittwer,
Thomas Südmeyer,
Christopher Phillips,
U. Keller
Publication year - 2019
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.27.037349
Subject(s) - optics , laser , materials science , femtosecond , thin disk , laser power scaling , dichroic glass , dichroic filter , mode locking , optoelectronics , disk laser , power (physics) , physics , stars , quantum mechanics , astronomy
We present a first power-scaled nonlinear-mirror (NLM) modelocked thin-disk laser based on an Yb-doped gain material. The laser oscillator delivers average output powers up to 87 W and peak powers up to 14.7 MW with sub-600-femtosecond pulses at ≈9-MHz repetition rate. We demonstrate a threefold improvement in average output power and sixfold improvement in pulse energy compared to previous NLM-modelocking results. We obtain peak powers in excess of 10 MW for the first time from an NLM-modelocked laser oscillator. In our laser, the NLM is assisted by a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) to reliably initiate pulsed operation. We validate the high-power suitability of the NLM modelocking technique using low-absorption χ (2) crystals and optimized dichroic-mirror coating designs. Furthermore, we discuss stability against Q-switching and study how the tuning of the nonlinear mirror affects the laser performance.