Evaluation and Understanding of the Laser Oscillation Property in Waveguides
Abstract
Excellent beam quality is indispensable for industrial application of high power lasers. However, high-power laser oscillation produces temperature gradients and thermal lensing inside the laser gain media resulting in laser power breakdown. This report describes fabrication of waveguide structures using Nd:YAG and YAG ceramics and investigation of their laser oscillation properties. The ceramic laser gain media evaluated was fabricated using materials controlled at macro-, micro- and nano-levels, and bonded into stacked waveguides which showed that generation of a high-power laser from a small gain medium (10mm x 32 mm) is possible. Laser output power was determined for a series of input power ranges (100-300 W, 400-600 W) and was found to increase rapidly almost linearly at 80 W or more absorbed power. Maximum output, 266 W, was momentarily achieved at approximately 680 W of absorbed power with over 46% slope efficiency without cracking the sample. Saturation of output power occurred at 260 W or greater absorbed power.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 14, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA570250
Entities
People
- Tomosumi Kamimura
Organizations
- Osaka Institute of Technology