Efficient sub-nanosecond intracavity optical parametric oscillator pumped with a passively Q-switched Nd : GdVO4 laser

Abstract

An efficient diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO4/Cr4+:YAG laser was employed to generate a high-repetition-rate, high-peak-power eye-safe laser beam with an intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a KTP crystal. The conversion efficiency for the average power is 8.3% from pump diode input to OPO signal output and the slope efficiency is up to 10%. At an incident pump power of 14.5 W, the compact intracavity OPO cavity, operating at 46 kHz, produces average powers at 1571 nm up to 1.2 W with a pulse width as short as 700 ps.