Coupling of cylindrical high-power laser-diode array end-pumped disk amplifier

A coupling method is put forward for laser-diode array (LDA) end-pumped amplifiers. The LDA is inscribed on a cylindrical surface and then a duct is connected to it. That means the laser diodes are arranged in the shape of an arch. The center of the arch is at the geometrical center of the gain medium. A three dimensional ray-tracing program is made to simulate the coupling of the cylindrical LDAs. Simulating results show that the cylindrical laser diode array can be arranged flexibly. When laser diode are arranged as 1×12, 2×6 and 3×4 arrays, high coupling coefficient and uniform coupling intensity distribution can be obtained simultaneously when the radius of the arch changes in a wide range; when the gain media is close to the output end of the duct, top-hat deposited pumping intensi