Efficient operation of a solid-state adaptive laser oscillator

Abstract

We present the results of a cw diode-pumped Nd-YVO₄ laser oscillator based on a self-starting adaptive gain-grating resonator. Adaptive laser operation has been demonstrated with 12W output for 37W of diode pumping, producing a TEM₀₀ mode that compensates for thermal aberrations. The issue of the finite aperture of the amplifier is discussed, and a design that incorporates an intracavity lens is used to improve the collection efficiency with severe thermal lensing at high pump powers. The powers of the beams involved in the resonator are compared with theory and are found to be in good agreement. Spectral and temporal behaviour of the adaptive laser is investigated, and very interesting behaviour is shown, including self-induced temporal modulation dynamics and a switching between a narrowband and a broad bandwidth of operation.

Applied Optics (2002) Vol.41(27) pp.5638-5644

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