Abstract

Optical-to-optical conversion efficiencies of as high as 32% with a slope efficiency of 44% were obtained with a novel diode-bar, side-pumped laser cavity design. A slab geometry with a single, high-angle-of-incidence reflection was used to extract gain from near the pump face of a Nd:YVO₄ bar that absorbed strongly at the pump wavelength. Small-signal gains of greater than 8 cm⁻¹ and pulse energies of as much as 3.2 mJ were obtained in an almost TEM₀₀ mode. Aperturing effects by the laser rod were found to limit the effects of nonuniform gain on the laser mode.

© 1993 Optical Society of America

High-repetition-rate diode-pumped Nd:YVO₄ slab laser

J. E. Bernard and A. J. Alcock
Opt. Lett. 19(22) 1861-1863 (1994)

Grating-tuned, single-longitudinal-mode, diode-pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser

J. E. Bernard, V. D. Lokhnygin, and A. J. Alcock
Opt. Lett. 18(23) 2020-2022 (1993)

Efficient high-power diode-end-pumped TEM₀₀ Nd:YVO₄ laser with a planar cavity

Yung-Fu Chen, Y. P. Lan, and S. C. Wang
Opt. Lett. 25(14) 1016-1018 (2000)

TEM₀₀ surface-emitting laser-diode longitudinally pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser

Gilles Feugnet, Muriel Schwarz, Christian Larat, and Jean Paul Pocholle
Opt. Lett. 18(24) 2114-2116 (1993)

High-power Nd:YLF laser end pumped by a diode-laser bar

Th. Graf and J. E. Balmer
Opt. Lett. 18(16) 1317-1319 (1993)