title: Cs laser with unstable cavity transversely pumped by multiple diode lasers.
abstract: We have demonstrated a Cs vapor laser with an unstable resonator transversely pumped by 15 narrowband laser diode arrays. A slope efficiency of 43%, a total optical efficiency of 31% and a maximum output power 49 W were obtained with a pump power of 157 Watts.
authors.affiliation: US Air Force Academy, Department of Physics, Laser and Optics Research Center, 2354 Fairchild Dr., Ste. 2A31, USAF Academy, CO 80840, USA. boris.zhdanov.ctr@usafa.edu
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Zhdanov
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Knize