Continuous-wave operation of a room-temperature, diode-laser-pumped, 946-nm Nd:YAG laser

Single-stripe diode-laser-pumped operation of a continuous-wave 946-nm Nd:YAG laser with less than 10-mW threshold has been demonstrated. A slope efficiency of 16% near threshold was shown with a projected slope efficiency well above a threshold of 34% based on results under Rhodamine 6G dye-laser pumping. Nonlinear crystals for second-harmonic generation of this source were evaluated. KNbO(3) and periodically poled LiNbO(3) appear to be the most promising.