Abstract

A major source of inefficiency in most diode-side-pumped lasers is the preferential absorption of the pump radiation near the surface while the laser mode is located in the interior of the active medium. We report here a novel slab laser design in which a single reflection at a high angle of incidence allows the laser mode to remain in the region of highest gain, near the flat pump face, throughout its passage in the active material. Nd:YVO₄ was chosen as the laser medium because of its very high absorption coefficient and stimulated emission cross section [1,2].

© 1993 Optical Society of America