Quasi-continuous-wave, laser-diode-end-pumped Yb:YAG zigzag slab oscillator with high brightness at room temperature

An experimental demonstration of a quasi-continuous-wave, laser-diode (LD)-end-pumped Yb:YAG zigzag slab oscillator with a high efficiency and power at room temperature has been presented. An image-inverting resonator was used in the slab laser to avoid beam excursion to the slab end and laser power instability. The emitted laser had an average power of 330 W at 1030 nm when the average pump power was 712 W at 940 nm with a repetition rate of 10 Hz and a pulse duration of 10 ms, which corresponded to an optical conversion efficiency of 46.3% and a slope efficiency of 56.0%.