Diode-laser-array-pumped neodymium slab oscillators

A high-power multistripe diode-laser array has been used to pump miniature zigzag slab oscillators of Nd:YAG and Nd:glass. With Nd:YAG we have demonstrated output at 1.06 microm of 70-kW peak power and 585-mW average power with an electrical-to-optical efficiency of 4%. In this experiment the Nd:glass lasers were limited to 160-mW average power and less efficiency than the Nd:YAG. The differences between these materials are discussed.