High-power diode-pumped Nd:YAG disk laser

Thermal effects present a major challenge to scaling of solid-state laser to high-average power. When using a thin laser crystal disk with a nearly flat-top pump profile, the heat flux can be considered to be one-dimensional. This results in a homogeneous temperature and stress profile within the laser medium leading to reduction of thermal effects. The pump profile is the main factor that may affect the homogeneous temperature profile, but some other factors may affect the temperature homogeneity, such as the cooling dimension and the ratio of the pump area to the thickness of the disk. These factors are analyzed and a good design is made. An average output power of more than 120W is obtained from one single disk and that of 216W from two disks.