High-power diode-end-pumped Nd : YVO4 laser: thermally induced fracture versus pump-wavelength sensitivity

Abstract

We report two kinds of compact and efficient diode-end-pumped TEM00 lasers with output power > 25 W at approximate to 50 W of incident pump power. One laser consists of a single 0.3 at. % Nd:YVO4 crystal in a V-type cavity, the other laser includes two 0.5 at. % Nd:YVO4 crystals in a linear cavity. Experimental results show that lowering Nd3+ concentration can be beneficial in extending the fracture-limited pump power but it also increases the sensitivity of the pump wavelength due to the overlapping efficiency.