High energy diode pumped solid state laser development at the Central Laser Facility
In this paper we review the development of high energy, nanosecond pulsed diode pumped solid state lasers within the Central Laser Facility (CLF) based on cryogenic gas cooled multi slab ceramic Yb:YAG amplifier technology. To date two 10J scale systems, the DiPOLE prototype amplifier and an improved DIPOLE10 system, have been developed, and most recently a larger scale system, DiPOLE100, designed to produce 100 J pulses at up to 10 Hz. These systems have demonstrated amplification of 10 ns duration pulses at 1030 nm to energies in excess of 10 J at 10 Hz pulse repetition rate, and over 100 J at 1 Hz, with optical to optical conversion efficiencies of up to 27% We present an overview of the cryo amplifier concept and compare the design features of these three systems, including details of the amplifier designs, gain media, diode pump lasers and the cryogenic gas cooling systems. The most recent performance results from the three systems are presented along with future plans for high energy DPSSL development within the CLF.
SPIE Photonics Europe