100-W-average-power Nd:YAG laser with adaptive cavity formed by self-induced population gratings

Abstract

We report the experimental and numerical investigation of a self-starting Nd:YAG laser oscillator with cavity completed by population gratings which are induced in the laser crystal by generating beams themselves. The spatio-temporal characteristics of the laser including three Nd:YAG amplifiers and the saturable absorber (LiF:F2- or Cr4+:YAG) have been investigated. The laser oscillator with a nonlinear mirror has displayed self-adaptivity to strong thermally induced intracavity distortions. The generation of single mode beams with an average power of as large as 100 W and near-diffraction limited quality has been achieved.