Optimization of beam quality and optical-to-optical efficiency of Yb:YAG thin-disk regenerative amplifier by pulsed pumping

Abstract

We demonstrate an optimization method of beam quality and optical-to-optical (O-O) efficiency by using pulsed pumping. By changing the pulse duration and the peak intensity of pump pulse at the repetition rate of 1kHz, the beam quality and O-O efficiency of the Yb:YAG thin-disk regenerative amplifier can be improved. We applied this method to the regenerative amplifier under the pumping wavelength of both 940 and 969nm, and found that the method was effective in both pumping wavelengths. Although a Yb:YAG thin disk soldered on a copper tungsten heat sink, which has poor thermal properties compared with a thin disk mounted on a diamond substrate, was applied as a gain media, we obtained 45mJ output with 19.3% O-O efficiency and nearly diffraction-limited beam.