Laser diode double-end-direct-pumped slab laser with hybrid resonator

Abstract

To reduce the influence of thermal lensing and attain the high power laser with high beam quality, a laser diode stack dual-end-direct-pumped Nd:YVO4 slab laser with negative branch confocal folded hybrid cavity has been developed. Its maximum output power is 416 W, optical conversion efficiency is 54.3%, and slope efficiency is 61.6%. When the output laser power is 370 W, M2 values in the unstable resonator direction and stable resonator direction are 3.9 and 4.7, respectively.