title: Spatially-selective amplified spontaneous emission source derived from an ultrahigh gain solid-state amplifier.
abstract: An investigation is made into the performance of a high power solid-state amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source with near-diffraction-limited beam quality. The radiation from this ASE source has high spatial quality and power, but unlike a laser it has a high misalignment tolerance and does not require a precisely aligned cavity. The source is based on a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser crystal in a bounce amplifier geometry with a uniquely ultra-high gain (~104-105). Double-pass ASE radiation with high power levels (>6W) is achieved in a near-diffraction-limited spatial quality. We further demonstrate that the double-pass ASE source also displays high spatial selectivity and capability to compensate for a phase diffuser, inserted in the double-pass arm, with only a small degradation in beam quality and power.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Damzen