Efficient pumping scheme for neodymium-doped materials by direct excitation of the upper lasing level.
An efficient pumping scheme that involves direct excitation of the upper lasing level of the Nd(3+) ion is demonstrated experimentally. The results obtained for direct upper laser level pumping of Nd:YAG R2 (869 nm) and Nd:YVO(4) (880 nm) were compared with traditional approximately 808-nm pump band excitation. A tunable cw Ti:sapphire laser was used as the pump source. In Nd:YAG, the oscillator slope efficiency increased by 10% and the threshold decreased by 11%. In Nd:YVO(4), the slope efficiency increased by 5% and the threshold decreased by 11%. These results agree with theory. The increase in optical efficiency indicates that laser material thermal loading can be substantially reduced.
Lavi
R
R
Non-Linear Optics Group, Electro-Optics Division, Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Yavne 81800, Israel. raphy@ndc.soreq.gov.il
Jackel
S
S
Tzuk
Y
Y
Winik
M
M
Lebiush
E
E
Katz
M
M
Paiss
I
I