Short pulse eye-safe laser with a stimulated Raman scattering self-conversion based on a Nd:KGW crystal

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Solid-State Lasers
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Nd:KGW (Neodymium-doped Potassium Gadolinium Tungstate) crystals are utilized in solid-state lasers.
• Raman lasers offer wavelength conversion capabilities.
• Diode-pumped solid-state lasers are crucial for various applications requiring compact and efficient sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the performance of a solid self-Raman laser based on a Nd:KGW crystal.
• To achieve high output energy and short pulse width in an eye-safe laser system.
• To explore the effectiveness of a specific resonator configuration for optimizing laser output.

Main Methods:

• Transverse pumping of a Nd:KGW crystal using laser diode bars.
• Implementation of a special s-polarized reflective resonator configuration.
• Utilizing a Raman resonator shorter than the fundamental radiation resonator.

Main Results:

• A solid self-Raman laser based on Nd:KGW was successfully demonstrated.
• An output energy of 31.8 mJ was achieved.
• A pulse width of 2.0 ns was obtained, representing the shortest pulse width reported for Nd:KGW lasers.

Conclusions:

• The developed Nd:KGW self-Raman laser system demonstrates superior performance in terms of output energy and pulse width.
• The employed resonator design is effective in enhancing laser performance.
• This eye-safe laser technology holds promise for applications requiring high-energy, short-pulse laser sources.