High-power tunable single- and multi wavelength diode-pumped Nd:YAP laser in the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transition

Abstract

We experimentally explore the fluorescent spectrum of the Nd:YAP crystal to manifest the feasibility of tunable single-and multi-wavelength operations in the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transition. An intracavity etalon is subsequently exploited to effectively select spectral lines at 1073, 1080, and 1084 nm with the tunabilities of 0.56, 1.13, and 0.1 nm, respectively. We also experimentally obtain multi-wavelength oscillations among various intermanifold lines in the Nd:YAP crystal with the output powers on the order of several watts for each group. Employing the Cr4+:YAG crystal to realize the passively Q-switched operation, the maximum average output powers as high as 2.3 and 3.5 W for 1073 and 1080 nm are obtained. The corresponding pulse energies at 1073 and 1080 nm are up to 177 and 159 mu J, respectively. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America