Nd-glass belt lasers with improved beam quality

摘要

Nd-doped phosphate glass belt lasers pumped by laser diodes are demonstrated. The Nd-glass belt with a large cross-section and a small Presnel number is air-cooled to provide around 18-W continuous wave (CW) output power with a beam quality factor of M_y~2 x M_x~2 = 16 x 3.2. With 6 pairs of V-grooves scribed on the edges of the glass belt, the beam quality is improved to M_y~2 x M_x~2 = 3.5 x 2.8 with output power of 13.5 W.