Efficient Diode Pumped Nd:KGW Laser Grown by Top Nucleated Floating Crystal Method: Part Ⅱ

摘要

Diode pumping of a laser-stress-free, Nd( 5% at.): KGW, grown by top nucleated floating crystal (TNFC) method, is presented. The diode-pumped laser was operated both in the free-running and passively Q-switched operating modes. Under optimized conditions of resonator and optics, the Nd:KGW disk (1.3 mm in thickness), produced at room temperature an efficient free-running, TEM_(00) output with maximum power of 0.4-W, with 75% slope efficiency and 51% total laser efficiency. Under slightly different experimental conditions the laser was passively Q-switched by using Cr~(4+):YAG as saturable absorber. The passively Q-switched laser produced modulated pulses at average frequencies in the range of 10-20 kHz, with pulsewidth of ≈180 nsec, with an average output power obtained was 30 mW at the maximumpumping power level. The results presented here indicate the potential Nd:KGW crystals grown by TNFC growth method, as candidates for concentrated, stress free diode pumped microlasers in a large variety of wavelengths, including the eye-safe range.