Efficient continuous-wave YVO4/Nd:YVO4 Raman laser at 1176 nm

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Vol. 103; no. 3; pp. 559 - 562
• Main Authors: Zhu, H. Y., Duan, Y. M., Zhang, G., Huang, C. H., Wei, Y., Chen, W. D., Huang, L. X., Huang, Y. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-06-2011
• Subjects: Conversion; Crystals; Diode pumps; Engineering; Lasers; Miniaturization; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Optics; Raman lasers; Raman Laser; Laser Crystal; Output Power; Pump Power; Incident Pump Power
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-010-4168-6

We present a simple and compact continuous-wave (CW) 1176 nm laser based on self-frequency Raman conversion in continuous-grown YVO
4
/Nd:YVO
4
composite crystal. With a composite crystal 30 mm in length, a maximum output power up to 1.84 W was achieved at the incident diode pump power of 23.6 W. Corresponding to overall optical conversion, the efficiency was 7.8% and the slope efficiency was 8.5%. The conversion efficiency has been doubled compared with the conventional Nd:YVO
4
CW self-frequency Raman laser
.
The excellent performance of this laser shows that the long continuous-grown YVO
4
/Nd:YVO
4
composite crystal is promising in the application of CW Raman lasers and ideal for miniaturization.