Efficient cw end-pumped, end-cooled Nd:YVO(4) diode-pumped laser

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Neodymium-doped Yttrium Orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) lasers are widely used due to their favorable properties.
• Achieving high-power, single-mode output with excellent beam quality remains a key challenge in laser development.
• Efficient pumping methods are crucial for maximizing laser performance and minimizing thermal effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel end-pumped, end-cooled geometry for a Nd:YVO4 continuous-wave (cw) laser.
• To achieve high single-mode output power with excellent beam quality.
• To investigate the optical-optical conversion efficiency and beam quality under varying pumping conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a novel end-pumped, end-cooled geometry for the Nd:YVO4 laser.
• Employed a high-brightness 100-µm-core diode fiber laser as the pump source.
• Characterized the output power, beam quality (M²), and optical-optical conversion efficiency.

Main Results:

• Achieved close to 2 W of single-mode output power.
• Obtained a high optical-optical conversion efficiency of 49%.
• Demonstrated nearly diffraction-limited beam quality (M² = 1.08), independent of pumping power.

Conclusions:

• The novel end-pumped, end-cooled geometry is highly effective for high-power Nd:YVO4 cw laser operation.
• The demonstrated performance, including high efficiency and excellent beam quality, is promising for various laser applications.
• This laser design offers a robust platform for future advancements in solid-state laser technology.