High‐Power Laser Systems

Abstract High‐power laser sources are widely used in industrial precision processing and act as a new platform for strong‐field physics research using peak power over petawatt. This review focuses on realizing high‐energy solid‐state disk and slab systems and the nonlinear‐suppression strategies for high‐power fiber systems using the functional fibers. First, the implementations and enabling technologies of the solid‐state lasers for increasing peak power from gigawatt to petawatt are reviewed. Then the mechanisms and suppression strategies of the deterioration effects (including stimulated Raman scattering, stimulated Brillouin scattering, and transverse mode instability) in various fiber amplifiers are analyzed. At the same time, the mechanism and achievements of the current functional fibers are introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of high‐power solid‐state and fiber amplifiers are summarized.