Laser amplification in Yb:YAG thin rods of different geometries: simulation and experiment

A numerical model for simulation of broadband amplification in a thin rod and thin-tapered-rod active elements was developed. The amplification of ultrashort laser pulses in three gain modules of different geometries was studied experimentally; the results of the experiments were used for validation of the elaborated numerical model. A laser system consisting of an ultrafast solid-state master oscillator and a two-stage thin-rod amplifier was constructed. With the use of the developed numerical model, optimization of the active elements' parameters was carried out in order to increase the output power of the elaborated laser system. (C) 2018 Optical Society of America