Abstract
The configuration designs of the laser diode (LD) side-pumping laser rods focus on how to solve the space conflict between the pump and heat-removal devices because both want to use the larger lateral surface of the laser rod. The conflict is better balanced in the three different side-pumping geometries: the segmented circular LD array side-pumping configuration, the annular liquid-cooling structure, and the compensated semicircular LD array side-pumping arrangement. The temperature distributions and thermo-optic effects of the laser rod in the segmented circular LD array side-pumping configuration are analyzed in contrast with those in the other arrangements. The numerical results indicate that the periodical segment-pumping scheme provides higher beam quality than the compensated semicircular side-pumping scheme, enabling removal of the complex liquid cooling system in medium-power applications, thus showing the potential to be used in compact and miniature laser systems.
Highlights
For the side-pumping geometry of lasers, the liquid cooling systems are often designed to cool the laser rod and pump-source [1,2], decrease the influence of thermo-optic effects [3], and ensure a stable laser output with high beam quality [4]
The temperature distributions and values indicate the change in the refractive index, through which the thermo-optic effects are further investigated, and the gain distribution in the laser rod, which influences the laser beam quality [1]
The distribution was axisymmetric about the center of the laser rod, whose maximum temperature was 30.11 ◦ C and the minimum temperature was 25 ◦ C at the cooled cylindrical surfaces of the laser rod
Summary
For the side-pumping geometry of lasers, the liquid cooling systems are often designed to cool the laser rod and pump-source [1,2], decrease the influence of thermo-optic effects [3], and ensure a stable laser output with high beam quality [4]. The laser rod, immersed in the fluid of the transparent coolant jacket, is pumped by the outside circular laser diode (LD) arrays; this arrangement effectively avoids the space conflict. The symmetrical annular pump leads to Gaussian gain distribution in the laser rod and to high-power laser output with high beam quality [1,5]. The annular liquid-cooling is the most commonly used method in side-pumping geometry, especially in high-power.
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