Simulations of the lasing properties of a thin-disk laser combining high-output powers with good beam quality

Karsten Contag; Uwe Brauch; Steffen Erhard; Adolf Giesen; Ingo Johannsen; Martin Karszewski; Christian Stewen; Andreas Voss

doi:10.1117/12.273678

2 May 1997 Simulations of the lasing properties of a thin-disk laser combining high-output powers with good beam quality

Karsten Contag, Uwe Brauch, Steffen Erhard, Adolf Giesen, Ingo Johannsen, Martin Karszewski, Christian Stewen, Andreas Voss

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2989, Modeling and Simulation of Higher-Power Laser Systems IV; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.273678
Event: Photonics West '97, 1997, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

A model to predict the optical efficiency and beam quality obtained from a diode pumped high-power thin disk laser is presented. The laser consists of a linear resonator with the quasi-three-level laser active material Yb:YAG placed as a thin disk on a cooling finger. The laser crystal is pumped by a near flat-top pump beam profile in a multiple pass configuration. Cw-output powers of 255 W at pump powers of 519 W have been achieved experimentally. Within the model the temperature distribution inside the crystal is calculated, taking into account the mutual dependence of temperature (and thus level population) and pump light absorption. The pump beam power distribution is modeled by Monte-Carlo-ray-tracing. The resonator is simulated by self-consistently circulating the power distribution within the resonator via transformations into a suitable mode system and back, using simple matrix multiplication. Thermal lensing due to thermo- optical and mechanical deformations is considered, using the results of finite-element-modeling. The resulting optical efficiency and beam quality have been calculated. The dependence on variables like temperature, dimensions of the pump beam source, number of pump beam passes and crystal thickness is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Karsten Contag, Uwe Brauch, Steffen Erhard, Adolf Giesen, Ingo Johannsen, Martin Karszewski, Christian Stewen, and Andreas Voss "Simulations of the lasing properties of a thin-disk laser combining high-output powers with good beam quality", Proc. SPIE 2989, Modeling and Simulation of Higher-Power Laser Systems IV, (2 May 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.273678

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available