1-W quasi-CW near-diffraction-limited semiconductor laser pumped optically by a fiber-coupled diode bar

Summary form only given. Optical pumping of vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers (VEC-SELs) offers a way in which to overcome both the beam quality limitations of edge-emitting diodes, and the power restrictions of electrically pumped surface-emitting lasers. High-brightness single-stripe diodes have been used to pump these devices, yielding up to 0.5 W of output power in a circular, near-diffraction-limited beam. We report a 1-W device pumped by a beam-shaped fiber-coupled diode bar.