Diode-pumped passively Q-switched picosecond Nd : GD(x)Y(1-x)VO(4) self-stimulated Raman laser

Abstract

An efficiency of 8.2% is demonstrated for a diode-pumped passively Q-switched self-stimulated Raman laser with an a-cut mixed vanadate crystal, Nd:Gd0.8Y0.2VO4. At 2.2 W of incident pump power, the self-stimulated Raman laser produces pulses as short as 660 ps at a Stokes wavelength of 1175 nm with 2.7 muJ of energy per pulse at a 66-kHz repetition rate. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.