Investigation on LD end-pumped passively Q-switched c-cut Nd: YVO4 self-Raman laser

The compact LD end-pumped passively Q-switched c-cut Nd:YVO4/Cr4+:YAG self-Raman laser is realized, and its output performance is investigated in detail. The maximum average output power at 1178nm is 800mW with the pulse repetition frequency of 44kHz and pulse width of 2.6ns, and the first Stokes conversion efficiency is 10.1%. The outputs of fundamental and first Stokes laser are found to be linearly polarized along the diagonals of the rectangular cross section of the c-cut Nd:YVO4 crystal, and the polarization mode competition is observed in the outputs of fundamental and first Stokes laser.