Influence of saturation of pump radiation absorption on the parameters of a planar YAG:Yb+3 amplifier

With allowances made for the saturation of pump radiation absorption, the energy parameters of planar YAG:Yb+3 amplifiers of continuous-wave-radiation and short pulses were determined. The wave-front aberrations resulting from temperature instability in the active medium were estimated. It was shown that saturation of pump radiation absorption presents an important factor affecting the parameters of planar amplifiers, particularly in the case of short pulses.