Simple high-efficiency TEM{sub 00} diode-laser-pumped {ital Q}-switched laser

Journal Article · Tue Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1995 · Optics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.20.000465· OSTI ID:165153

Afzal, R S; Selker, M D ^[1]

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1. Code 924, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 (United States)

A simple, efficient diode-laser-pumped {ital Q}-switched Nd:YAG laser is described that produces 2.25-mJ, TEM{sub 00}, 4-ns pulses up to 90 Hz with only 20 mJ of pump power. The laser has a zigzag slab geometry, side pumped with only one high-power quasi-cw diode bar. This performance approaches that of longitudinal pumping, demonstrating TEM{sub 00} mode operation with long-pulse and {ital Q}-switched slope efficiencies of 28% and 19%, respectively. Second- and fourth-harmonic efficiencies of {gt}50% and {gt}20% from 1064 nm without the use of external focusing optics were also demonstrated.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 165153
• Journal Information: Optics Letters, Journal Name: Optics Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 20; ISSN 0146-9592; ISSN OPLEDP
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
HARMONIC GENERATION
INFRARED RADIATION
MILLIWATT POWER RANGE
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
Q-SWITCHING