Laser-diode-pumped eight-pass Nd:YAG slab amplifier

Abstract

A novel laser architecture of laser-diode pumped eight pass 1064-nm Nd:YAG zig-zag slab laser amplifier was developed aiming to achieve high energy extraction efficiency and good beam quality. A high energy extraction efficiency of up to 73% for the laser mode volume has been achieved in this amplifier operating at an initial small signal gain of 3.36. The excellent beam quality factor M² of 1.2 has been obtained. The compensation of thermal birefringence in this amplifier was successfully performed.