300-W cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG laser

• Published in: IEEE journal of quantum electronics Vol. 41; no. 10; pp. 1274 - 1277
• Main Authors: Ripin, D.J., Ochoa, J.R., Aggarwal, R.L., Fan, T.Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-10-2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation; Beams (radiation); Doped-insulator lasers and other solid state lasers; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); High-power lasers; Laser beams; Laser noise; Laser optical systems: design and operation; Lasers; Material properties; Optical distortion; Optics; Oscillators; Physics; Power lasers; Quantum electronics; Solid lasers; solid-state lasers; Temperature; Thermal conductivity; Thermal expansion; thermooptic effects; Yb lasers; High-power lasers; Yb lasers; Radiation quality; solid-state lasers; YAG laser; Doped materials; Experimental study; Cryogenic temperature; Oscillators; thermooptic effects; Ytterbium additions; Solid state lasers; Thermo-optical effects; Optical amplifier; Absorption spectra; End pumping
• ISSN: 0018-9197; 1558-1713
• DOI: 10.1109/JQE.2005.855027

Thermooptic effects often limit the power and beam quality of bulk-solid-state lasers. Cryogenically cooled (/spl sim/100 K) Yb:YAG lasers have been previously demonstrated to have relatively low thermooptic effects and high efficiency due to improved material properties at low temperatures. In this work, >300-W average power with M/sup 2//spl sim/1.2 and 64% optical-optical efficiency has been demonstrated from an end-pumped-rod geometry power oscillator. To our knowledge, this is the highest average power to date from a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG laser.