David F. Head

Performance of diode-pumped Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF lasers in a tightly folded resonator configuration

The performance of diode bar pumped Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF lasers in a novel tightly folded resonator configuration is described. For Nd:YLF at a pump level of 9.2 W a TEM/sub 00/ output power of 3.1 W with a slope efficiency of 47% was observed. In Q-switched operation a pulse energy of 0.7 mJ and a pulsewidth of 5 ns were obtained. The same resonator design configured to operate as an optical amplifier provides small-signal gain of 28 dB and average output powers of greater than 1 W. >

High-Efficiency Diode Pumping of Nd:YLF and Nd:YAG Using a Laser-Diode Bar

We describe a new solid-state laser geometry that allows efficient, high average power pumping by a continuous-wave (cw) laser diode bar. We discuss cw, q-switched, frequency doubled, and tripled operation.

Advances of 3- to 10-W average-power diode-pumped lasers

Current results for diode pumped solid state lasers are driven by advances in diode laser technology. Diode arrays in the 10 - 20 watt range are now available in useful formats which allow coupling into side- and end-pumped laser configurations. Side-pumped designs have traditionally produced higher output power at the expense of mode quality. End-pumped devices, on the other hand, have shown high mode quality but have been limited in their output power or pulse energy. Results are given which demonstrate new end-pumped laser coupling and cavity configurations which allow both high mode quality and increased power output.