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Slab Lasers: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction

Slab lasers are a type of high-power solid-state bulk lasers that utilize a gain medium in the form of a slab. These lasers are capable of generating high-power output and are used in various applications across different industries.

Types of Slab Lasers

Slab lasers can be classified based on the geometry of their gain medium. They can use laser crystals such as Nd:YAG, Yb:YAG, or alexandrite. CO2 lasers with a slab geometry are also common, where the carbon dioxide mixture forms a wide gain sheet between two metallic electrodes.

Face Pumping vs. Edge Pumping

There are two primary pumping geometries for slab lasers: face-pumped and edge-pumped. Face-pumping is suitable for lamp-pumped lasers, while edge-pumping is more appropriate for diode-pumped lasers due to the higher spatial coherence of laser diodes.

Power Extraction

Power extraction in slab lasers can be challenging due to asymmetry in geometry and thermal lensing. Techniques such as using a zigzag slab geometry or employing an unstable laser resonator are commonly used to address these challenges.

Thermal Effects and Power Scaling

Slab lasers experience strong thermal effects, especially in the vertical direction, due to heat extraction from the top and bottom faces. To mitigate thermal issues, edge-pumped slabs are preferred over face-pumped slabs for higher power scaling capabilities.

Slab Waveguide Lasers

Slab waveguide lasers are a special type of slab laser where the laser light propagates within a thin doped region, serving as a waveguide. This design allows for higher output power with relatively high beam quality.

Competing Architectures

Slab lasers compete with other high-power laser architectures such as thin-disk lasers and fiber lasers. Each architecture has its advantages and limitations in terms of power levels, beam quality, and efficiency.

Conclusion

Slab lasers are a versatile and powerful tool in the field of laser technology, offering high-power output for various applications. Understanding the different geometries, pumping techniques, and thermal effects is essential for optimizing the performance of slab lasers in different scenarios.

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