2kW, M^2 < 10 radially polarized beams from aberration-compensated rod-based Nd:YAG lasers

Abstract

Radially polarized light in a 2.1 kW, good quality beam was obtained from a Nd:YAG rod-based master oscillator power amplifier. Several techniques were utilized: a pure radially polarized oscillator, efficient pump chambers, external compensation of lower-order aberrations, and higher-order aberration compensation by pairing of pump chambers.