946-nm diode-pumped laser produces 100-mJ

Theresa J. Axenson; Norman P. Barnes; Donald J. Reichle Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.417031

13 February 2001 946-nm diode-pumped laser produces 100-mJ

Theresa J. Axenson, Norman P. Barnes, Donald J. Reichle Jr.

Proceedings Volume 4153, Lidar Remote Sensing for Industry and Environment Monitoring; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.417031
Event: Second International Asia-Pacific Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Environment, and Space, 2000, Sendai, Japan

Abstract

An innovative approach to obtaining high energy at 946 nm has yielded 101 mJ of laser energy with an optical-to-optical slope efficiency of 24.5%. A single gain module resonator was evaluated, yielding a maximum output energy of 50 mJ. In order to obtain higher energy a second gain module was incorporated into the resonator. This innovative approach produced unsurpassed output energy of 101 mJ. This is of utmost importance since it demonstrates that the laser output energy scales directly with the number of gain modules. Therefore, higher energies can be realized by simply increasing the number of gain modules within the laser oscillator. The laser resonator incorporates two gain modules into a folded “M-shaped” resonator, allowing a quadruple pass gain within each rod. Each of these modules consists of a diode (stack of 30 microlensed 100 Watt diode array bars, each with its own fiber lens) end-pumping a Nd:YAG laser rod. The diode output is collected by a lens duct, which focuses the energy into a 2 mm diameter flat to flat octagonal pump area of the laser crystal. Special coatings have been developed to mitigate energy storage problems, including parasitic lasing and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), and encourage the resonator to operate at the lower gain transition at 946 nm.

Citation Download Citation

Theresa J. Axenson, Norman P. Barnes, and Donald J. Reichle Jr. "946-nm diode-pumped laser produces 100-mJ", Proc. SPIE 4153, Lidar Remote Sensing for Industry and Environment Monitoring, (13 February 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.417031

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