Design and characterization of a high average power slab YAG laser

The detailed design and characterization of a zigzag optical path laser with a
0.6 \times 2 \times 15
cm Nd:YAG slab is described. Beam distortions arising from nonuniform pumping of the slab and from various end effects are diagnosed, and the implementation of corrective measures is explained. We report on the device performance of the free running oscillator with 70 W output at 1.06 μm and the amplifier with parasitic suppression in which a small signal amplification of 45X was achieved.