Efficient amplification of a single-mode laser diode by photorefractive beam combination using an injection-locked diode-laser array pump

Powers in excess of 100 mW have been obtained in a near-diffraction-limited, single-mode laser-diode output by photorefractive two-beam coupling in BaTiO(3), using an injection-locked 1-W diode-laser array as the pump source. Signal gains of as much as 8.1 are obtained, corresponding to pump transfer efficiencies of 49%. Calculations suggest that powers as high as 225 mW should be obtainable, given suitably antireflection-coated optics.