Open AccessHigh power (>500W) cryogenically cooled Yb:YLF cw-oscillator operating at 995 nm and 1019 nm using E//c axis for lasing
Author(s) -
Martin Kellert,
Umıt Demırbas,
Jelto Thesinga,
Simon Reuter,
Mikhail Pergament,
Franz X. Kärtner
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.422526
Subject(s) - lasing threshold , materials science , laser , optics , continuous wave , wavelength , optoelectronics , laser power scaling , slope efficiency , crystal (programming language) , fiber laser , physics , computer science , programming language
We present record continuous wave (cw) output power levels from cryogenically cooled Yb:YLiF 4 (Yb:YLF) lasers in rod geometry. The laser system is pumped by a state-of-the-art 960 nm diode module, and vertically polarized lasing was employed using the E//c axis of Yb:YLF. Lasing performance was investigated at different output coupling levels in different cavity configurations and the laser crystal temperature was estimated via monitoring the emission spectrum of the gain media. We have obtained a cw output power up to 400 W at a wavelength of 995 nm. The absorbed pump power was around 720 W, and the laser output had a TEM 00 beam profile with an M 2 of 1.3 in both axes. At higher absorbed pump power levels with increasing laser crystal temperature, we observed a lasing wavelength shift from 995 nm to 1019 nm. In this regime cw output power levels above 500 W have been achieved at an absorbed pump power of 750 W. Further power scaling was limited by the onset of strong thermal lensing. We discuss underlying physical mechanisms for the wavelength shift and present detailed temperature measurements under lasing conditions.