Open AccessThermal lens shaping in Brewster gain media: A high-power, diode-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser
Author(s) -
Nathan W. Rimington,
Stephanie L. Schieffer,
W. Andreas Schroeder,
Brian K. Brickeen
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.12.001426
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , laser , laser beam quality , lens (geology) , resonator , laser diode , active laser medium , diode , laser power scaling , optoelectronics , physics , laser beams
A straightforward method is presented for generating a stigmatic spherical thermal lens in laser-diode-pumped, Brewster-cut solid-state gain media by shaping the aspect ratio of the elliptical pumped region. Demonstration of this laser head design with Nd:GdVO(4) as the gain medium yields a stable, efficient, high-power (>20W) diode-pumped laser at 1063nm. Analysis of the spatial mode characteristics of a 67cm-long symmetric resonator both confirms the radially symmetric nature of the pump-induced thermal lens and indicates that laser resonators incorporating this head design can readily generate a high spatial beam quality (M(2) < 2).