SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to construct and test a highly efficient diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser based on the novel design of a conductively cooled prismatic pumping cavity with direct side-pumping of the active rod element. We believe that the use of this advanced prismatic pumping cavity will allow us to achieve highly efficient operation (as compared with currently used pump cavity designs) in CW as well as in quasi-CW regimes and at the same time provide efficient conductive cooling of the Nd:YLF rod. This study will provide the means for construction of a compact efficient laser source with output average power scalable up to 150 W in TEMoo mode or up to 250 W in multimode regime. We estimate the real efficiency of the laser to be on the order of 45-50%.

___(NOTE: Note: no official Abstract exists of this Phase II projects. Abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ)___ We propose to construct and test a highly efficient diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser based on the novel design of a conductively cooled prismatic pumping cavity with direct side-pumping of the active rod element. We believe that the use of this advanced prismatic pumping cavity will allow us to achieve highly efficient operation (as compared with currently used pump cavity designs) in CW as well as in quasi-CW regimes and at the same time provide efficient conductive cooling of the Nd:YLF rod. This study will provide the means for construction of a compact efficient laser source with output average power scalable up to 150 W in TEMoo mode or up to 250 W in multimode regime. We estimate the real efficiency of the laser to be on the order of 45-50%.