Efficient diode double-end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser operating at 1342nm

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Materials Science
• Optics

Background:

• High-power continuous-wave (cw) lasers are crucial for various scientific and industrial applications.
• Neodymium-doped Yttrium Orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) is a widely used laser gain medium.
• Thermal management is a key challenge in scaling laser output power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a high-power cw Nd:YVO4 laser operating at 1342nm.
• To investigate the benefits of double-end-pumping for power scalability and thermal management.
• To achieve efficient intracavity frequency doubling for visible laser output.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Nd:YVO4 laser crystal with low neodymium doping concentration.
• Employed a double-end-pumping configuration to distribute thermal load.
• Integrated Lithium Triborate (LBO) crystal for intracavity frequency doubling.

Main Results:

• Achieved over 8W of cw TEM00 output power at 1342nm.
• Demonstrated a slope efficiency of 42% and optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 33%.
• Generated over 900mW of cw output power at 671nm via frequency doubling.

Conclusions:

• Low doping concentration and double-end-pumping effectively mitigate thermal loading, enabling higher output powers.
• The demonstrated laser system offers a scalable platform for high-power infrared generation.
• Efficient intracavity frequency doubling provides a viable route to visible laser wavelengths from this system.