Cr:LiSAF thin slab zigzag laser

We report on a Cr:LiSAF zigzag thin slab laser in which single-pulse output energy of 1.8 J was achieved at a record specific energy output of 1.5 J/cm/sup 3/ of Cr:LiSAF. A Cr:LiSAF laser model was developed which, when compared with data, gives good agreement with energy and temporal laser output measurements. The device is in a configuration which can be scaled to high average power.