Compact high-energy picosecond laser for micromachining applications

Abstract

Picosecond pulse generation by active mode locking and subsequent regenerative amplification in a Nd: vanadate laser crystal has been realized in one and the same cavity using the all-in-one laser concept. An active prelasing stabilization loop has been implemented acting on the mode locker, allowing stable operation up to repetition rates as high as 3 kHz. Sub-30-ps pulses with an energy of 800 μJ have been achieved, constituting the highest peak power and the highest average output power ever demonstrated by means of the all-in-one approach. The combination of compact design, high peak and average power along with a near-diffraction-limited beam profile makes this source a promising tool for precision micromachining applications. © Springer-Verlag 2004.