CURRENT ADVANCES IN HIGH AVERAGE POWER DIODE-PUMPED LASERS.

In the last two decades, the price of the laser diodes significantly dropped and made them an energy-effective solution for pumping high energy class high average power solid-state lasers. This is a significant advantage for the potential use of such lasers in industry, where operation cost is considered. The efficiency of such diode-pumped lasers is much higher compared to the previous generation of flashlamp-pumped solid-state lasers. In addition, the small size of the laser diodes allows a drastic reduction of the overall size of the solid-state lasers. This article will give a brief summary of the worldwide progress in the area of high energy high average power diode-pumped laser systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]