Axisymmetric laser Sources with planar gain media

This project was funded by the EPSRC First Grant Scheme to explore an original approach for generating circular laser beams from thick and thin slab-like gain media.

We demonstrated novel resonator and laser configurations, for eample a high-average-power CW Nd:YLF slab laser to 50W of output power. As such we were able to demonstrate the key benefits offered by the slab geometry, primarily due to the excellent thermal management characteristics offered by this laser architecture. Our goal to obtain a circular laser beam with good beam quality, from planar active media was obtained and the relative merits of the approach investigate, as highlighted int eh research sample below.

 Back to the Planar Waveguide and Slab Lasers group webpage