Efficient continuous-wave Nd:YVO₄/KGW intracavity Raman laser

Area of Science:

• Lasers and Photonics
• Nonlinear Optics
• Solid-State Lasers

Background:

• Intracavity Raman lasers offer a pathway to wavelength conversion.
• Achieving efficient continuous-wave (CW) operation in Raman lasers is challenging due to thermal effects and gain limitations.
• Optimizing cavity design is crucial for enhancing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate an efficient CW intracavity Raman laser.
• To improve output power and optical efficiency.
• To mitigate thermal effects in the laser system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a V-shaped fundamental laser cavity combined with a short Stokes cavity.
• Employed Nd:YVO4/KGW crystals for Raman conversion.
• Optimized oscillating beam sizes to manage thermal effects and enhance Raman gain.

Main Results:

• Achieved a continuous-wave Stokes output power of 9.33 W at 1177 nm.
• Reached an optical efficiency of 25.5%.
• Demonstrated the highest reported Stokes output power and conversion efficiency for CW intracavity Raman lasers.

Conclusions:

• The developed laser design effectively suppresses thermal effects and boosts Raman gain.
• The results represent a significant advancement in CW intracavity Raman laser technology.
• This work paves the way for high-power, efficient wavelength-converted laser sources.