Efficient, scalable, internally folded Nd:YAG laser end-pumped by laser diodes

A scalable diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser is described in which the gain element resembles a penta-prism. This design allows longitudinal pumping along five separate axes. Using five high-power single stripe laser diodes, 4.16 W of absorbed power produced 2.3 W CW at 1.06 mu m. The slope efficiency was 56%, the output was plane polarized, and the laser operated in the TEM/sub 00/ mode. The threshold power, was 48 mW. No evidence of thermal saturation was observed up to the maximum pump power. With an intracavity KTP crystal, 431 mW of CW amplitude-stable output at 532 nm was generated. Repetitive Q-switched operation is also reported.<
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