High-efficiency, high-repetition-rate Nd:YVO_4 self-Raman laser pumped by a wavelength-locked 9139 nm diode laser

Abstract

A high-efficiency, high-repetition-rate Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser at the first-Stokes wavelength of 1176 nm pumped by a wavelength-locked 913.9 nm laser diode is presented. An output power of 9.4 W with a pulse repetition rate of 140 kHz was also generated under the absorbed pump power of 29.6 W for the incident pump power of 36 W, corresponding to a diode-to-Stokes conversion efficiency of 31.8%. This is to our knowledge the highest optical to optical efficiency and output power of a laser diode end-pumped Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser at 1176 nm.