Geometrical transformation of linear diode-laser arrays for longitudinal pumping of solid-state lasers

Author

Leger, James R. ; Goltsos, William C.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis, MN, USA

Volume

28

Issue

4

fYear

1992

fDate

4/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1088

Lastpage

1100

Abstract

A 200-stripe linear diode-laser array is geometrically transformed into a two-dimensional, symmetric virtual source with symmetric divergence to end pump a Nd:YAG laser. The geometrical transformation is performed by two planes of diffractive optical elements separated by a 2.6-cm gap. Discounting optical losses, a TEM₀₀ mode slope efficiency of 56% is demonstrated. Methods of increasing the throughput efficiency of the diffractive elements (currently approximately 50% per element,) are explored. A theoretical model for estimating the maximum useful pump array size in longitudinally pumped rod and fiber lasers shows that this pump geometry is close to optimum

Keywords

neodymium; optical pumping; semiconductor laser arrays; solid lasers; 2D; 56 percent; Nd:YAG laser; TEM₀₀ mode slope efficiency; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; diffractive optical elements; end pump; fiber lasers; linear diode-laser arrays; longitudinal pumping; maximum useful pump array size; pump geometry; rod lasers; solid-state lasers; symmetric divergence; symmetric virtual source; throughput efficiency; Diodes; Geometrical optics; Laser excitation; Laser modes; Optical arrays; Optical diffraction; Optical losses; Optical pumping; Pump lasers; Semiconductor laser arrays;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.135232

Filename

135232