Continuous-wave low power diode radial pumped microchip composite Yb:YAG laser

Summary form only given. Recently a composite Yb:YAG microchip scheme that consists of an Yb doped core surrounded by an undoped YAG of slab or disk shape and that is radial pumped was proposed. We report first experimentally results obtained on a composite 2 at.% Yb:YAG microchip laser radially pumped by diode lasers at 941 nm. CW laser emission with 50% slope efficiency and 1.8 W maximum output power for 5.1 W absorbed power is demonstrated. This laser scheme could be scaled in power by increasing the doping level and the doped volume and by decreasing the crystal's thickness in order to improve the heat removal. Further experiments employing a 2 mm diameter 10 at.% Yb doped core, from which CW power in excess of 140 W absorbed power is expected, are under development.