High-repetition-rate quasi-CW side-pumped mJ eye-safe laser with a monolithic KTP crystal for intracavity optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We demonstrate a high-repetition-rate millijoule passively Q-switched eye-safe Nd:YVO4 laser pumped by a quasi-CW diode stack. A theoretical analysis has been explored for the design criteria of generating TEMn,0 mode in the diode-stack directly side-pumping configuration. We successfully generate TEMn,0 modes at 1064 nm by adjusting the gain medium with respected to the laser axis. We further observe the spatial cleaning ability for generating an nearly TEM0,0 mode output at 1573 nm with a monolithic OPO cavity. At the repetition rate up to 200 Hz, the output pulse energy reaches 1.21 mJ with the threshold pump energy of 17.9 mJ. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America