Quasi-Continuous-Wave, Laser-Diode-End-Pumped Yb:Yag Zigzag Slab Oscillator With High Brightness At Room Temperature

An experimental demonstration of a quasi-continuous-wave, laser-diode ( LD)-end-pumped Yb: YAG zigzag slab oscillator with a high efficiency and power at room temperature has been presented. An image-inverting resonator was used in the slab laser to avoid beam excursion to the slab end and laser power instability. The emitted laser had an average power of 330Wat 1030nm when the average pump power was 712Wat 940nm with a repetition rate of 10 Hz and a pulse duration of 10 (ms), which corresponded to an optical conversion efficiency of 46.3% and a slope efficiency of 56.0%. (C) 2017 The Japan Society of Applied Physics