title: Cryogenic, high power, near diffraction limited, Yb:YAG slab laser.
abstract: A cryogenic slab laser that is suitable for scaling to high power, while taking full advantage of the improved thermo-optical and thermo-mechanical properties of Yb:YAG at cryogenic temperatures is described. The laser uses a conduction cooled, end pumped, zigzag slab geometry resulting in a near diffraction limited, robust, power scalable design. The design and the initial characterization of the laser up to 200W are presented.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Physics and IPAS, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. miftar.ganija@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Miftar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganija
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ottaway
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veitch
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munch
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007834:Lasers; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015018:Ytterbium
chemical_list: D015018:Ytterbium