Efficient continuous-wave and Q-switched operation of a 946-nm Nd:YAG laser pumped by an injection-locked broad-area diode laser

The efficient, low-threshold operation of a 946-nm Nd:YAG laser pumped by an injection-locked broad-area diode laser is reported. The implications of pump-beam quality for efficient, low-threshold operation, particularly with intrinsically inefficient transitions, are discussed in the context of previously published models. Results are presented showing that the M-2 = 1.3 pump beam of the injection-locked diode laser enabled a cw slope efficiency of 48% and a threshold of 52 mW to be attained. When Q-switched, 335 mW of pump power gave 27-ns, 5.2-mu J pulses. These were frequency doubled to obtain 19-ns, 1-mu J pulses at 473 nm. These results represent significant improvements over similar systems pumped by free-running broad-area diode lasers or arrays. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.