Abstract
We designed a cost effective, highly efficient diode-pumped and Q-switched 532nm laser with large laser output power range and fast laser output power switching from zero Watts to any user defined operating power by adjusting the pump diode current. It is well known that pump diodes used in the solid-state Nd:YAG lasers have center wavelength around 808nm or 885nm and will shift their center wavelength while changing its drive current. The pump diode wavelength shift can be large enough to move outside of the laser gain medium absorption band. This results in lower pump absorption efficiency and hence in lower overall system optical to optical conversion efficiency for some portion of the laser output power range. A few typical ways to minimize this wavelength-shift-caused lower pump absorption effect with their trade-offs have been discussed. We report the unique pump diode wavelength of 879nm and single Nd:YAG rod design for this laser system. This system has about 38% optical to optical (879nm to 532nm) conversion efficiency. The pump current can be adjusted to tune the laser output power to anywhere within the range of 20W to 300W. The laser output power responds within 2 seconds to this input current change, and does not result in Nd:YAG rod damage. Furthermore, a high pump light absorption efficiency is maintained.
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