Second and third harmonic conversion of a kilowatt average power, 100-J-level diode pumped Yb:YAG laser in large aperture LBO
Jonathan Phillips, Saumyabrata Banerjee, Paul Mason, Jodie Smith, Jacob Spear, Mariastefania De Vido, Klaus Ertel, Thomas Butcher, Gary Quinn, Danielle Clarke, Chris Edwards, Cristina Hernandez–Gomez, John Collier
Abstract
We report on the successful demonstration of second and third harmonic conversion of a high pulse energy, high average power 1030 nm diode pumped Yb-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Yb:YAG) nanosecond pulsed laser in a large aperture lithium triborate (LBO) crystal. We demonstrated generation of 59.7 J at 10 Hz (597 W) at 515 nm (second harmonic) and of 65.0 J at 1 Hz (65 W) at 343 nm (third harmonic), with efficiencies of 66% and 68%, respectively. These results, to the best of our knowledge, represent the highest energy and power reported for frequency conversion to green and UV-A wavelengths.