Development of Laser-Diode Pumped High Power Pulsed Laser for the Next-Generation Materials Processing Technique

Abstract

We started to develop a material processing system using high power pulsed laser. We believe that high pulse energy output from diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is critical for the next generation material processing technologies. A conceptual design on 100 Joule class DPSSL is presented using a Yb:YAG ceramics amplifier configuration. We developed a novel high power laser-diode stack with 7.5- kW peak power for pumping the DPSSL. The industrial applications of high pulse energy laser are reviewed in the field of material processing. We demonstrate the potential for surface treatment application using high energy laser pulses and present a preliminarily test of laser shock peening for metal material.