Stable resonators with variable reflectivity mirrors for multi-kW Nd:YAG lasers

Georg Bostanjoglo; Thomas Beck; R. Dommaschk; Horst Weber

doi:10.1117/12.270101

4 April 1997 Stable resonators with variable reflectivity mirrors for multi-kW Nd:YAG lasers

Georg Bostanjoglo, Thomas Beck, R. Dommaschk, Horst Weber

Proceedings Volume 3092, XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.270101
Event: XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High Power Laser Conference, 1996, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

A new method for obtaining high-power laser beams with drastically improved beam quality for fiber coupling is presented. The central idea is to use variable reflectivity mirrors (VRM) as outcoupling mirrors for high-power solid- state lasers with stable resonators, operated near the maximum power. The reflectivity profile of the VRM, properly chosen, acts similar to a mode aperture. Without any further modifications of the laser, the beam parameter products were substantially reduced: the maximum values at intermediate pumping powers were reduced to the beam parameter product occurring at the highest input power. The laser power, however, was not reduced within the principal working interval. Different Nd:YAG laser systems with 350 W, 1.9 kW, and 3 kW maximum output power were equipped with VRM. The 1.9 kW system was coupled without any loss of power into a 400 micrometer fiber instead of the 600 micrometer fiber normally used. The influence of the VRM spot size on laser power and beam parameter product (BPP) was investigated. Furthermore, it was shown that better beam quality is achieved by adding further laser cavities inside the resonator instead of using them as external amplifiers.

Citation Download Citation

Georg Bostanjoglo, Thomas Beck, R. Dommaschk, and Horst Weber "Stable resonators with variable reflectivity mirrors for multi-kW Nd:YAG lasers", Proc. SPIE 3092, XI International Symposium on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers and High-Power Laser Conference, (4 April 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.270101

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KEYWORDS

Resonators

Mirrors

Reflectivity

Nd:YAG lasers

Laser resonators

Near field

High power lasers

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