Options
1997
Journal Article
Titel
Highly efficient diode-stack, end-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser with symmetrized beam quality
Abstract
An efficient high-power cw Nd:YAG slab laser, partially end pumped by diode-laser stacks, and a novel beam-shaping technique are reported. The optical efficiency amounted to 44 per cent, and the slope efficiency amounted to 55 per cent. Introducing an intracavity Brewster plate to polarize the laser beam, we obtained an optical efficiency of 35 per cent and a slope efficiency of 41 per cent. The output beam was rectangular and the beam quality asymmetric in two orthogonal directions. To equalize the beam quality, we introduced a step. mirror beam-shaping technique. The beam-shaping technique and the results obtained are discussed.