High-efficiency continuous-wave Raman conversion with a BaWO4 Raman crystal

We report a high-efficiency cw Raman conversion with a BaWO4 Raman crystal in a diode-end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser. The Raman threshold is as low as 3.6 W of diode power at 808 nm. The highest output power obtained at the 1180 nm first-order Stokes line is 3.36 W under the diode power of 25.5 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 15.3% and a diode-to-Stokes optical conversion efficiency of 13.2%. The intracavity Raman conversion efficiency is 21.5% with respect to the available output of the 1064 nm fundamental. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America