Actively Q-Switched Multisegmented Nd:YAG Laser Pumped at 885 nm for Remote Sensing

An end-pumped actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser using a multisegmented crystal rod as laser active material, directly pumped to the upper laser level by an 885-nm emitting diode is demonstrated. The Nd:YAG crystal was pumped both in CW and quasi-CW mode. The maximum energy per pulse obtained was 2.57 mJ at 1 kHz, with an overall efficiency of ~ 7.5\) %. The pulse duration was 22-ns full-width at half-maximum while the spatial beam profile was excellent (M
²
<;1.3) .