Polarization-controlled switching in a diode-pumped dual-wavelength Yb:YAG slab laser

We originally demonstrate a diode-end-pumped, free-running dual-wavelength Yb:YAG slab laser with controlled polarization. A Yb:YAG slab crystal was employed as the laser crystal and its temperature distribution was simulated at different powers. The laser oscillations were generated and controlled in a plane-concave resonator by tilting the output coupler (OC). The maximum polarization extinction ratio (PER) was up to 25.8 dB with the dual-wavelength output power of 2.63 W. The theoretical studies confirmed that the phase difference gradually changes as the tilt angle increase. Stable linear polarizations suggest that optical vectors with relative path difference were coherent superposed in the laser resonator. This work is a potential pathway to achieve a high PER light source for polarization-dependent devices. •Polarization control of a dual-wavelength Yb:YAG slab laser was demonstrated.•The maximum polarization extinction ratio was up to 25.8-dB.•Phase shift was theoretically modeled to prove polarization switching behavior.•Develop dual-wavelength lasers to drive polarization-dependent devices.