Compact efficient Q-switched eye-safe laser at 1525 nm with a double-end diffusion-bonded Nd:YVO4 crystal as a self-Raman medium

We report on an efficient Q-switched eye-safe laser at 1525 nm with a double-end diffusion-bonded Nd:YVO4 crystal as a self-Raman gain medium. A diffusion-bonded crystal not only reduces the thermal effects but also increase the interaction length for the stimulated Raman scattering. With an input pump power of 17.2 W, average power of 2.23 W at the first-Stokes wavelength of 1525 nm is generated at a pulse repetition rate of 40 kHz, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 13%. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America