Efficient Diode-Laser-Pumped 946 nm Nd:YAG Laser with Resonator-Enhanced Pump Absorption

The pump absorption of a 946 nm Nd laser was improved by resonating the GaAlAs diode-laser pump light in the 0.33 mm long, monolithic laser resonator, whose maximum single pass pump absorption was only 18%. When the diode laser frequency was tuned to the pump resonance that was properly impedance matched, the Nd: YAG laser produced 29 mW from an incident diode laser power of 61 mW for an overall efficiency of 48%. Laser oscillation was observed at both 946 nm and 938 nm. © 1992 IEEE