Abstract

The 1.444 µm transition of Nd:YAG offers the possibility of a diode pumped^[1], high power^[2], scaleable eye-save laser. Due to the four level nature of this transition, the performance is not limited by thermal population of the lower laser level, as in Er³⁺- and Tm³⁺- lasers at 1.5 µm and 2 µm. respectively. Furthermore the inherent simplicity of diode pumped lasers offers considerable advantages over optical parametric oscillators operating in the near IR, when tuning of the wavelength is of minor interest.

© 1996 IEEE