Efficient diode-laser-pumped 946 nm Nd:YAG laser with resonator-enhanced pump absorption

The pump absorption of a 946-nm Nd:YAG laser was improved by resonating the GaAlAs diode-laser pump light in the 0.33-mm-long, monolithic laser resonator, whose maximum single pass pump absorption was only 18%. When the diode laser frequency was tuned to the pump resonance that was properly impedance matched, the Nd:YAG laser produced 29 mW from an incident diode laser power of 61 mW, for an overall efficiency of 48%. Laser oscillation was observed at both 946 nm and 938 nm.<
>