Transverse diode pumped Nd:YVO4 laser of simple design

MONICA B. AGUERO; ALEJANDRO A. HNILO; MARCELO G. KOVALSKY

OPTICAL ENGINEERING

SPIE-SOC PHOTOPTICAL INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERS

Año: 2010 vol. 49 p. 1 - 6

0091-3286

The design and performance of an all-solid-state Nd:YVO44 laser, transversely pumped by a single 20-W
at 808 nm diode with no coupling optics, are presented. The prototype, which is devised to be the source of a micro-LIDAR station, is very simple, easy to align, compact, and stable. The key element is a roof prism as the end mirror of the laser cavity, which is used to symmetrize the effects of the thermal distortion and the inhomogeneity of the population inversion distribution. Typical numbers are 4.2-W cw with a slightly astigmatic
3:2 homogeneous spot and a divergence of 0.5 mrad. The protoype is also tested in the active Q-switching mode, providing pulses 50-ns full width at half maximum
at 808 nm diode with no coupling optics, are presented. The prototype, which is devised to be the source of a micro-LIDAR station, is very simple, easy to align, compact, and stable. The key element is a roof prism as the end mirror of the laser cavity, which is used to symmetrize the effects of the thermal distortion and the inhomogeneity of the population inversion distribution. Typical numbers are 4.2-W cw with a slightly astigmatic
3:2 homogeneous spot and a divergence of 0.5 mrad. The protoype is also tested in the active Q-switching mode, providing pulses 50-ns full width at half maximum
3:2 homogeneous spot and a divergence of 0.5 mrad. The protoype is also tested in the active Q-switching mode, providing pulses 50-ns full width at half maximum
FWHM at 14 KHz, 3.5 W average. Frequency doubling external to the cavity in a nonoptimized configuration provides 700 mW at 532 nm.FWHM at 14 KHz, 3.5 W average. Frequency doubling external to the cavity in a nonoptimized configuration provides 700 mW at 532 nm.