Efficient continuous-wave eye-safe Nd:YVO₄ self-Raman laser at 1.5  µm

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Achieving efficient continuous-wave (CW) operation of crystalline Raman lasers at 1.5 µm is challenging due to high Raman thresholds and thermal effects.
• 1.5 µm lasers are crucial for applications including optical communication, laser radar, and remote sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the first efficient CW operation of a Nd:YVO4 Raman laser at 1.5 µm.
• To overcome the limitations of high thermal effects and Raman thresholds in crystalline Raman lasers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized effective thermal management strategies.
• Leveraged the self-Raman effect in a composite Nd:YVO4 crystal.
• Employed a 20-mm-long composite Nd:YVO4 crystal and a 300-µm pump beam radius.

Main Results:

• Achieved 685 mW of CW eye-safe emission at 1524.5 nm.
• Obtained a diode-to-Stokes conversion efficiency of 4.8%.

Conclusions:

• Demonstrated the feasibility of efficient CW operation for Nd:YVO4 Raman lasers at 1.5 µm.
• The developed approach offers a promising solution for high-power, eye-safe laser sources in the 1.5 µm spectral region.