High efficiency diode laser side-pumped Nd: YAG rod laser

摘要

High efficiency laser performance of 2 mm diameter and 20 mm long Nd: YAG crystal rod transversely pumped by laser diode array is presented. Using the directly side-coupled geometry enclosed by cylindrical pump cavity plated with gold, we obtained long pulse energy of 4.6 mJ corresponding to optical-to-optical slope efficiency of 37/100. The complete solid-state Nd: YAG laser is described to be simple, compact and highly efficient.