Diode-pumped amplifier/laser using leaky wave fiber coupling: an evaluation

Experimental measurements on a diode-pumped solid-state amplifier/laser leaky wave fiber coupling are presented. Test results indicate that a diode laser, to solid-state rod coupling efficiency of 81% and an overall pump energy coupling efficiency of 26.5% into a single TEM/sub 00/ are possible. A single-pass gain coefficient of 1.7*10/sup -3/ cm/sup -1/ was obtained in a 2 mm diameter by 25 mm long Nd:YAG laser rod while being pumped with 418 mW through a multimode optical fiber. Good agreement between the measured and calculated gain coefficient was observed.<
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