2 x 2 arrayed and passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser under Dammann- arrayed pumping

We reported our proof-of-concept investigation in developing an arrayed and passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser. In the investigation, we used a Dammann grating to diffract the pumping light from a 808 nm laser diode into 2 x 2 pump beam array, and then used this pump array to pump a monolithic Nd:YVO4 laser crystal standing with a Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber inside a simple plano-plano resonator. As a result, 2 x 2 arrayed and nanosecond laser pulses were emitted. The laser-diode-pumped monolithic solid-state laser incorporated with a Dammann grating is promising for application in high-peak- power and multipoint pulse ignition of an automobile engine. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America