105 W, <10  ps, TEM_00 laser output based on an in-band pumped Nd:YVO_4 Innoslab amplifier

We reported on a compact and efficient in-band pumped Nd:YVO4 partially pumped slab (Innoslab) picosecond amplifier. A new method for mode-matching was demonstrated to simplify the amplifier design. Integrating the benefits of the in-band pumping technique and the excellent thermal management of the Innoslab amplifier design, a 105 W, 8.4 ps laser output was achieved with near-diffraction limited beam quality of M(x)(2)=1.12 and M(y)(2)=1.09 in the orthogonal directions.