Letter: Efficient continuous-wave Nd:YLF laser in-band diode-pumped at 908nm and its thermal lensing

摘要

We report on what we believe is the first continuous-wave yttrium lithium fluoride laser with in-band diode pumping at 908 nm. Pumping at this wavelength reduced the quantum defect by more than 50% when compared to the conventional pumping at ~800 nm. The laser produced an output power of 850 mW at 1047 nm and its radiation was π-polarized. It had a near diffraction limited output beam and a maximum slope efficiency of ~73.9% with respect to the absorbed pump power. The thermal lensing strength was experimentally measured and compared with the previous experimental data. It was found that the thermal lensing was significantly reduced when compared to the traditional ~800 nm pumping.