A novel multi-rod configuration to generate automatically collimated output beams independent of pump powers

A novel configuration for a multi-rod solid-state laser system is proposed. Thermal lens dependent variation of output beam parameter is stabilized by extracting laser beam from a collimating point of periodical beam propagation. The performance is successfully confirmed with a 100W class diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser-amplifier system to prove 10-times stabilization of the output beam diameter.