High repetition rate Q-switching of high power Nd:YVO4 slab laser

A high power, diode-side-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser with a grazing incidence cavity geometry was acousto-optically Q-switched at frequencies up to 500 kHz. In CW operation, the laser output power was 16.4 W at 30.5 W of diode pump, corresponding to optical conversion efficiency of 53.8%. In Q-switching operation, measurements were made of average output power, pulse duration, pulse energy and peak power as a function of Q-switching frequency. At 200 kHz repetition rate and pump power 30 W, the laser output had average power 15.9 W (optical conversion efficiency 53%), pulse duration 15 ns, pulse energy 80 muJ and peak power 5.3 kW. A numerical modeling of the Q-switched laser was performed and results compared with experimental data. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.