Systematic power scaling of dynamically stable Nd:YAG resonators in single-transverse-mode laser operation

Abstract

The present research deals with the investigation of systematic power scaling of Nd:YAG laser systems by preserving the beam quality and misalignment sensitivity. Firstly, by using the distributed refractive power model and the GLAD software, a single dynamically stabilized rod was proposed. The proposed resonator, in comparison with its flat symmetric counterpart, showed a higher fundamental mode volume (at least twelve times) and exhibited the same amount of misalignment sensitivity. Then, due to the limitation of increasing the pumping power in the process of power scaling, the periodic multi-rod resonators, were used based on a basic dynamic stable resonator. Effectiveness of periodic resonators in fundamental mode power scaling have been investigated because of increment of the fundamental mode volume. The results of the investigation have been validated via a two-rod periodic laser resonator. The results can be useful for power scaling of single transverse mode Nd:YAG lasers, without degrading the beam quality and generating more misalignment sensitivity.

Keywords

• single transverse-mode operation
• power scaling
• dynamically stable laser resonators