High-Repetition-Rate Q-Switched Diode-Pumped Nd:YAG Laser at 1.444 mum.

ABSTRACT

A diode-pumped Q-switched NdYAG laser that operates at the eye-safe 1444 nm wavelength has been developed. When pumped by a 10-W fiber-coupled array at 808 nm, it generated 1 W in cw operation and 560 mW at 20-kHz repetition rate with active Q-switching. Design issues such as thermal lensing characterization and beam quality are discussed.