Diode-pumped Q-switched Nd : YVO4 yellow laser with intracavity sum-frequency mixing

Abstract

A compact high-power yellow pulsed laser has been. demonstrated by use of intracavity sum-frequency mixing in a diode-end-pumped Q-switched Nd:YVO4 dual-wavelength laser. A three-mirror configuration forming two separate laser cavities is used to optimize the gain match for simultaneous dual-wavelength emission in Q-switched operation. Under the optimum cavity-length condition, the highest yellow average power is 340 mW and the peak power is 2 kW, obtained at 12.5 W of pump power. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.