Performance Evaluation of Solid-State Laser Gain Module by Measurement of Thermal Effect and Energy Storage

Abstract

The optimization of solid-state laser cavities requires a deep understanding of the gain module, the most critical laser component. This study proposes a procedure for evaluating the performance of the solid-state laser gain module. The thermal effect and energy storage characteristics are the performance criteria. A normalized heating parameter was calculated as a quantitative indicator of the performance criteria. We proposed a method to quantify the heat dissipated into the gain medium using the wavefront distortion, thermal deformation theory of the gain medium, and the ray transfer matrix method. The suggested procedure was verified by evaluating the flashlamp type Nd:YAG rod gain module, but it can also even be extended to other solid-state laser gain modules by applying the appropriate thermal deformation theory.

Hybrid Resonator 1319 nm Nd:YAG InnoSlab Laser

“…In the past, most research at 1319 nm was carried out using Nd:YAG crystal rod [8], which would limit the power scaling influenced by the thermal effect of gain media. Such an effect originating from the quantum defect causes the thermal lens effect and thermal depolarization [9]. In order to achieve an efficient output, researchers have tried various methods, such as using an intracavity lens [6] and crystal with a concave end face, decreasing the Stokes shift between the pump and the laser photon energies [7,10], even adopting the double gain host with 90 • quartz polarization rotators [6], etc.…”