Multiwatt continuous-wave adaptive laser resonator

Abstract

We present, for what we believe is the first time, results of continuous-wave diode-pumping of a Nd:YVO (4) laser with an adaptive gain-grating resonator. The system is shown to produce more than a 7-W output in a TEM>(00) single longitudinal mode with a laser beam propagation parameter M(2) of <1.3 and <1.1 in the x and y axes, respectively. We demonstrate the self-adaptive abilities of the resonator by spatial correction of an intracavity aberrator for both injected and self-starting versions of the cavity.