Full-aperture gain measurement of diode-pumped Nd:YAG slab laser amplifier with intensity ratio method

A full-aperture gain measurement obtained with the intensity ratio is presented for a diode-pumped ceramic slab laser amplifier. The small-signal gain profile of the amplifier is calculated by the ratio of pump-on and pump-off intensities. The distribution of absorbed pumping power, fluorescence distribution and gain in the width direction of the slab amplifier are simulated and measured, respectively. A gain homogeneity presented by standard deviation (σ) of 0.17 at a pump power of 1800 W is obtained in the experiment.