Recent disk laser development at Trumpf

Abstract

This paper highlights the latest advances of disk laser technology at Trumpf. The disk laser combines unique properties, especially high output brilliance (at the lowest pump brilliance requirements of any high power platform), power scalability and broad applicability from cw to ps systems. In the new generation of cw disk lasers, 6kW are extracted from one disk in an industrial product at beam qualities suitable for welding. Moreover, scaling laser power to 10 kW per disk and resonators with higher brilliance are discussed. These advances are enabled by a combination of power scaling and increase of optical-to-optical efficiency. In addition, applications of the disk laser principle to pulsed operation, from ns to ps duration, at infrared and green wavelengths are discussed. Finally, an outlook on the capabilities of disk lasers towards highest cw power and ultra-high peak powers of petawatts and beyond is given.