Edge- and end-pumped slab lasers with both efficient and uniform pumping

In conventional high-power slab lasers, the design is often a compromise between pump absorption efficiency and uniformity. In this paper, both are studied for diode-array-pumped slab lasers. We explore a method with which each can be separately optimized, so it becomes possible to have both high efficiency and uniformity in slab lasers with long optical pump paths. The method is applicable to composite and ceramic crystal slab lasers.