High-power neodymium-glass waveguide laser

Results are presented of an investigation of the lasing characteristics of a high-power neodymium silicate glass spoke-waveguide laser. The influence of short-lived color centers on the lasing properties is investigated. It is shown that short-lived color centers lead to generation of regular giant pulses with repetition frequency up to 30 kHz, to a substantial lengthening of the decay time of the neodymium-ion metastable level (via a decrease of the superluminescence background) and by the same token to an increase of the lasing efficiency. A high-power technological waveguide laser with spokelike active elements, emitting a train of regular giant pulses with total emission energy up to 20 J and high homogeneity of the emission-field distribution is developed on the basis of the reported investigations.