Cryogenic Yb:YAG picosecond laser with high average power visible and ultraviolet harmonic generation

D. C. Brown; K. Kowalewski; V. Envid; J. Zembek; B. Canale; J. W. Kolis; C. D. McMillen; H. Geisber

doi:10.1117/12.921425

7 May 2012 Cryogenic Yb:YAG picosecond laser with high average power visible and ultraviolet harmonic generation

D. C. Brown, K. Kowalewski, V. Envid, J. Zembek, B. Canale, J. W. Kolis, C. D. McMillen, H. Geisber

Proceedings Volume 8381, Laser Technology for Defense and Security VIII; 83810T (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.921425
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Cryogenic Yb:YAG lasers operating at 1029 nm have been demonstrated at Snake Creek Lasers with high average power CW and ultrafast output powers, and provide near diffraction-limited output beams that are ideal for applications in harmonic generation. We describe experiments that have produced high average power green output power at 515 nm as well as preliminary experiments producing UV output power at 257.25 nm. Frequency doubling experiments used a 20 mm long non-critically phase-matched LBO crystal mounted in a constant temperature oven. A mode-locked Yb fiber laser operating at 50 MHz was used to drive a two Yb:YAG cryogenic amplifier system, producing hundreds of watts of average power output with a FWHM pulsewidth of 12 ps. Doubling efficiencies of > 50 % have been observed. For frequency quadrupling, we have used hydrothermally grown KTTP crystals grown at Clemson University and Advanced Photonic Crystals. KBBF offers unprecedented UV transmission down to 155 nm, and was used in a Type I phasematching configuration. The properties of KBBF will be discussed, as well as the experimental results observed and conversion efficiency.

Citation Download Citation

D. C. Brown, K. Kowalewski, V. Envid, J. Zembek, B. Canale, J. W. Kolis, C. D. McMillen, and H. Geisber "Cryogenic Yb:YAG picosecond laser with high average power visible and ultraviolet harmonic generation", Proc. SPIE 8381, Laser Technology for Defense and Security VIII, 83810T (7 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.921425

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE