Compact passively Q-switched Raman laser at 1176 nm and yellow laser at 588 nm using Nd3+:YAG/Cr4+:YAG composite crystal

Abstract

Compact passively Q-switched YVO4 first Stokes Raman laser and its frequency doubling laser were reported by using Nd3+:YAG/Cr4+:YAG composite crystal for what is believed to be the first time. Nanosecond lasers at 1176 and 588 nm were obtained. At the incident pump power of 7.84 W, the average output power at 1176 nm was 423 mW with a pulse width of 1.32 ns and the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 13.7 kHz. By applying a KTP crystal, an intracavity second harmonic generation (SHG) laser at 588 nm also was realized. With an incident pump power of 8.95 W, we obtained 105.3 mW average output power of a yellow laser corresponding to the pulse width of 4.95 ns and the PRF of 10.75 kHz. In addition, the composite crystal efficiently compacted the resonant cavity.