Source: Ultrafast Laser Physics – ETH Zürich

The Concept of Power Scaling in Lasers

Understanding Power Scaling

Power scaling in lasers refers to a systematic procedure to increase the output power without compromising essential performance parameters. It involves enhancing output power without deteriorating beam quality, relying on improved system components, or encountering limiting factors like excessive temperatures or nonlinear effects.

Methods of Power Scaling

Power scaling methods vary, with some techniques allowing for significant power increases while maintaining beam quality. For instance, beam combining with multiple lasers can be used to achieve higher output powers without sacrificing beam quality. However, increasing the number of components may be necessary in such cases.

Power Scalability in Laser Designs

Certain laser architectures, such as thin-disk lasers, exhibit true power scalability due to their design characteristics. These lasers can increase output power by simply adjusting the mode area in the gain medium, without encountering severe thermal effects or beam quality degradation.

Challenges in Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers

Cladding-pumped fiber lasers face challenges in achieving power scalability due to limitations in mode area and optical intensities. Increasing output power while maintaining beam quality requires careful considerations such as pump power distribution and fiber length to mitigate nonlinear effects and thermal loads.

Concluding Thoughts

Power scaling in lasers is a critical aspect of laser technology advancement. True power scalability allows for significant performance enhancements within a wide range of output powers. Understanding the scalability of laser architectures and components is key to optimizing laser performance and exploring new applications in various industries.

Source: MDPI
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