Highly Efficient kW-Class Thin-Disk Laser with Radial Polarization

Scientists at the Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge (IFSW) have demonstrated the generation of kW-class continuous-wave radially polarized laser radiation from an Yb:LuAG thin-disk laser (TDL).

Output powers of up to 980 W were achieved with an optical efficiency of 50.5% with respect to the incident pump power of the TDL [1]. The degree of radial polarization was measured to be 95.5% at the maximum output power. This was achieved by the integration of a new generation of broadband, large-area grating-waveguide mirror with unprecedented high polarization discrimination as the end-mirror in the TDL resonator. 

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