Title :
A new Q-switched hybrid resonator configuration for the 100 W Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser
Author :
Xu, J. ; Lee, J.R. ; Baker, H.J. ; Hall, D.R.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Heriot-Watt Univ., Edinburgh, UK
Abstract :
In this paper we report developments in active Q-switching and power amplification for the diode-face-pumped, Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser. To introduce Q switching capability, we have designed a resonator which includes a free-space section between the output coupler and the waveguide end-facet. An acousto-optic modulator is positioned in this section, and operates on the full 1 cm wide in-cavity beam of the unstable resonator. Using free-space coupling by a pair of lenses, a multipass configuration has doubled the cw output available from planar waveguide lasers to 220 W. Current work is confirming the beam quality and gain when the oscillator operates in Q-switched mode.
Keywords :
Q-switching; acousto-optical modulation; aluminium compounds; high-speed optical techniques; lenses; neodymium; optical couplers; optical pumping; optical resonators; solid lasers; waveguide lasers; yttrium compounds; 1 cm; 100 W; 220 W; Nd:YAG planar waveguide laser; Q-switched hybrid resonator configuration; Q-switched mode; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; acousto-optic modulator; beam quality; diode-face-pump; free-space coupling; free-space section; lens; multipass configuration; output coupler; power amplification; waveguide end-facet; wide in-cavity beam; Diodes; Laser beams; Laser modes; Lenses; Optical coupling; Optical modulation; Oscillators; Planar waveguides; Power lasers; Waveguide lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe, 2003. CLEO/Europe. 2003 Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7734-6
DOI :
10.1109/CLEOE.2003.1312070
