Abstract

The one micron laser performance of Neodymium-doped YLF, LYAG, YAG, GSGG, GGG, BZAG, and YSAG have been studied using diode array side pumping. The 2-D diode pump arrays fabricated by MDESC and SDL have 808 nm efficiencies of greater than 40%, total bandwidth of less than 3 nm in a 200 µs pulse, and emit at up to 1.8 kW/cm².4, 5, 10 and 20 bar stacks of one centimeter AlGaAs laser bars were close-coupled to 6.35 mm diameter by 15 mm long laser rods to achieve maximum optical coupling efficiency. Materials were pumped from one side in a double pass configuration, and then pumped from two sides to determine scalability. Small signal gain was measured in the amplifier configuration. The array center wavelength was temperature-tuned to vary absorption efficiency and energy deposition within the rods. Spectroscopic and laser results are analyzed and compared.

© 1990 Optical Society of America