300-W Cryogenically Cooled Yb:YAG Laser

摘要

Thermooptic effects often limit the power and beam quality of bulk-solid-state lasers. Cryogenically cooled (approx100 K) Yb:YAG lasers have been previously demonstrated to have relatively low thermooptic effects and high efficiency due to improved material properties at low temperatures. In this work, >300-W average power with M~(2) approx 1.2 and 64percent optical-optical efficiency has been demonstrated from an end-pumped-rod geometry power oscillator. To our knowledge, this is the highest average power to date from a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG laser.