42.5 W output from a compact Nd:YVO/sub 4/ bounce oscillator power amplifier laser

In recent years, diode-end-pumped solid-state lasers have become important sources of 1 /spl mu/m radiation, offering high efficiency output with excellent beam quality. In this paper, we report operation of the grazing-incidence bounce geometry oscillator-amplifier Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser incorporating intracavity cylindrical optics to maximise the mode-matching between pump and laser radiation. It is concluded that it has a very high efficiency output from a diode-side-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ bounce laser. A maximum optical conversion efficiency of >68% is obtained with 26.1W of multimode output power and 23.1 W of single spatial mode output power. Finally, in an oscillator-amplifier configuration 42.5 W of multimode output with 60% conversion efficiency is achieved.