Transverse diode-pumped neodymium-doped yttrium vanadate laer of simple design

MÓNICA B. AGÜERO; ALEJANDRO HNILO; MARCELO G. KOVALSKY

OPTICAL ENGINEERING

SPIE-SOC PHOTOPTICAL INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERS

Año: 2010 p. 342011 - 342015

0091-3286

The design and performance of an all solid state Nd:YVO4 laser, transversely pumped by a single 20W (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 especially simple, easy to align, compact and stable. The key element is a roof prism as the end mirror of the laser cavity, to symmetrize the effects of the thermal distortion and the inhomogeneity of the population inversion distribution. Typical numbers are 4,2W 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 FWHM at 14 KHz, 3,5W average. Frequency doubling external to the cavity in a non-optimized configuration provides 700 mW at 532 nm.