Multipass diode-pumped Nd:YAG optical amplifiers at 1.06 μm and 1.32 μm

We have built two versions of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG amplifier using a compact multipass confocal geometry with a fiber-coupled input. This confocal geometry provided efficient power and high gain in a volume of approximately 100 cm
³
. When pumped with a commercially mature 2 W 809 nm laser diode, the 1.06 μm version produced 460 mW and a small signal gain of 51 dB. The 1.32 μm version produced 170 mW and a small signal gain of 29 dB. Such an efficient amplifier, especially at 1.32 μm would be useful as a power booster in fiber optic telecommunications.