OPTIMIZATION OF THE ACTIVE MEDIUM LENGTH IN LONGITUDINALLY PUMPED CONTINUOUS-WAVE LASERS

Using a space-dependent rate-equation analysis and considering the gai n medium within the confocal region, we developed a method to calculat e the output power in longitudinally pumped cw lasers as a function of a single parameter: the active medium length. It is possible to find an optimum laser design for maximum output power for a specified laser medium and pump wavelength. Some well-known longitudinally pumped las er systems, Ti:Al2O3, KCl:Tl-0(1), and Cr:LiSAF, are discussed. In par ticular, we also analyzed the Nd:YLF laser under two pumping condition s: pumped by a diode laser at lambda p = 797 nm and pumped by an argon -ion laser at lambda p = 514.5 nm. For the diode-pumped configuration, efficiencies as high as 50% can be expected. (C) 1995 Optical Society of America