Abstract

Laser-diode-excited Nd:YAG lasers have recently attracted considerable attention due to their potential for numerous applications in laser measurements, including injection seeding of laboratory-scale Nd:YAG laser systems.¹ In this paper, we report the use of a “gain-switching” method to generate single-longitudinal mode pulses from a laser-diode-excited monolithic Nd:YAG source at power levels that are orders of magnitude higher than those obtainable using CW excitation methods. Numerical modeling of the device predicts its operational characteristics to a high degree of precision. At the same time the model suggests that these devices may be unstable under conditions for which passive cavities are known to operate stably.

© 1985 Optical Society of America