Efficient Nd:YAG laser end pumped by a 20-W diode-laser bar

We describe efficient cw operation of a Nd:YAG laser longitudinally pumped by a 20-W cw diode-laser bar by use of a novel pump reshaping and focusing scheme. Fundamental-transverse-mode operation at 1.064 microm with output powers of 6 W (unpolarized) and 5.3 W (linearly polarized) for 14.4 W of incident pump power have been demonstrated.