Claims
- 1. A MOPA laser system comprising:a laser master oscillator (MO) pumped by a first pump source and having a Nd-doped gain medium for generating a MO beam with tailored beam properties; and a power amplifier (PA) pumped by a second pump source and having an Yb-doped gain medium for amplifying the MO beam, the MO and PA being arranged to input the MO beam into the PA to pass the MO beam through the Yb-doped gain medium; the Nd-doped gain medium and Yb-doped gain medium having a gain maximum at substantially the same wavelength, the Nd-doped gain medium having a higher gain cross section than the Yb-doped gain medium, the Yb-doped gain medium having a longer energy storage time than the Nd-doped gain medium.
- 2. The MOPA laser system of claim 1 wherein said Yb-doped gain medium is pumped by laser diodes.
- 3. The MOPA laser system of claim 1 wherein:the Yb-doped gain medium has an emission lifetime of >0.9 msec and an emission cross section of <10×10−20 cm2; the Nd-doped gain medium has an emission lifetime of <0.7 msec and an emission cross section of >10×10−20 cm2.
- 4. The MOPA laser system of claim 3 wherein the Yb-doped gain medium is pumped by laser diodes.
- 5. The MOPA laser system of claim 1 wherein:the Yb-doped gain medium is a Yb-doped crystal having the formula M5(AO4)3X, where M is a divalent cation selected from Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Cd2+or Pb2+or a combination of monovalent and trivalent ions, selected from Li+, Na+, K+, or Rb+, and Y3+, Lu3+or other RE3+(rare earth), A is selected from Si, As, P, Ge, or V, X is a singly-charged anion, selected from F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, or OH−, or one-half the fraction of doubly-charged anions, selected from O2−or S2−.
- 6. The MOPA laser system of claim 5 wherein said Yb-doped crystal is pumped by laser diodes.
- 7. The MOPA laser system of claim 5 wherein the Yb-doped crystal is Ca5(PO4)3F, Sr5(PO4)3F, (Ca,Sr)5(PO4)3F, or Sr5(VO4)3F.
- 8. The MOPA laser system of claim 7 wherein the Yb-doped crystal is pumped by a laser diode.
- 9. The MOPA laser system of claim 1 wherein the Yb-doped gain medium is an Yb-doped fiber.
- 10. The MOPA laser system of claim 9 wherein said Yb-doped fiber is pumped by laser diodes.
- 11. A MOPA laser system, comprising:a 1.047 μm master oscillator (MO) laser source having a Nd-doped LiYF4 crystal gain medium for generating a MO beam; and a 1.047 μm laser power amplifier (PA) having an Yb-doped Sr5(PO4)3F crystal gain medium for amplifying the MO beam, the MO and PA being arranged to input the MO beam into the PA to pass the MO beam through the Yb-doped crystal gain medium.
- 12. The MOPA laser system of claim 11 wherein said Yb-doped crystal gain medium is pumped by laser diodes.
- 13. A MOPA laser system, comprising:a master oscillator (MO) laser source having a Nd-doped gain medium for generating a MO beam; a laser power amplifier (PA) having an Yb-doped crystal gain medium having the formula A3B2C3O12 for amplifying the MO beam, where A is selected from Y3+, La3+, Gd3+Lu3+or other RE3+(rare earth), B is selected from Sc3+, Ga3+, or Al3+, and C is selected from Ga3+or Al3+, the MO and PA being arranged to input the MO beam into the PA to pass the MO beam through the Yb-doped gain medium; the Nd-doped gain medium and Yb-doped gain medium having a gain maximum at substantially the same wavelength the Nd-doped gain medium having a higher gain cross section than the Yb-doped gain medium, the Yb-doped gain medium having a longer energy storage time than the Nd-doped gain medium.
- 14. The MOPA laser system of claim 13 wherein said Yb-doped crystal is pumped by laser diodes.
- 15. The MOPA laser system of claim 14 wherein:the laser diode-pumped Yb-doped gain medium is selected from a Yb-doped Y3Al5O12, Gd3Ga5O12, Gd3Sc2Ga3O12, Y3Sc2Ga3O12 or Y3Ga5O12 crystal.
Government Interests
The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48 between the United States Department of Energy and the University of California for the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
US Referenced Citations (8)