Method for design and construction of efficient, fundamental transverse mode selected, diode pumped, solid state lasers

摘要

An efficient, fundamental transverse mode selected, diode pumped, solid state laser is disclosed. The laser consists of a slab of laser gain material such as Nd:YLF. Cavity forming optics are positioned around the slab of laser gain material. A laser diode bar, collimated by a micro-lens is used for side pumping a constrained gain region in the slab of laser gain material, with the dimensions transverse to the direction of beam propagation of the constrained gain region being smaller in at least one axis than the transverse dimensions of the fundamental transverse mode volume in the laser gain material. The cavity forming optics and the side pumping of the constrained gain region act in conjunction such that the fundamental transverse mode is automatically selected in the solid state laser.