Abstract
An efficient pumping scheme that involves direct excitation of the upper lasing level of the Nd3+ ion is demonstrated experimentally. The results obtained for direct upper laser level pumping of Nd:YAG R2 (869 nm) and Nd:YVO4 (880 nm) were compared with traditional ∼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:YVO4, 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.
© 1999 Optical Society of America
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