High-brightness rotary disk lasers

In this paper, we will present recent results from the first commercially available rotary disk laser. Rotary disk laser concept introduces physical motion as a new control element in solid state laser designs. Rotary disk lasers have the potential of producing much higher power in single-mode operation than other types of bulk solid state lasers. Rotary disk lasers also have the potential of generating much higher energy pulses than fiber lasers. The Nd-YAG rotary disk laser produced 30.8 W of output power in a single mode at 32.4% optical efficiency. In a preliminary test, 81.9 W was obtained from a single mode Yb-YAG rotary disk laser.