Self-stimulating, transversally diode pumped Nd3+:KGd(WO4)2 Raman laser

Operation of a compact, self-stimulating, Q-switched Nd3+:KGd(WO4)(2) Raman laser is reported which was transversally pumped by a 300 W quasi-cw diode laser. The crystal was cut with the b-axis parallel to the direction of beam propagation and exhibited Raman activity with a phonon energy of 901 cm(-1). Maximum pulse energies of 0.1 mJ were achieved at 1162 nm. A pulse duration of 50 ns was measured in comparison to 140 ns at the fundamental wavelength of 1067 nm. The Raman laser radiation was frequency doubled by a LiB3O5 crystal into the yellow spectral region at 581 nm. The temporal evolution of the Raman laser radiation is discussed on the basis of model calculations. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.