Diode-laser-array end-pumped actively Q-switched Nd : GdVO4 laser at 1.06 mu m formed with a flat-flat resonator

A diode-laser-array end-pumped acousto-optically Q-switched Nd:GdVO4 laser formed by a simple fiat-flat cavity was developed. A maximum average output power at 1.06 mum of 6.15 W at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 60 kH z was obtained with an optical conversion efficiency of 36.2% and a slope e fficiency of 42%. The highest single poise energy and the highest peak powe r were achieved at a PRF of 10 kHz, and were measured to be 267 muJ and 19. 1 kW respectively. The shortest laser pulse was found to occur at a PRF of 20 kHz, with a full width at hair-maximum (FWHM) width measured to be 10.5 ns. It has also been shown that the cavity length; the Q-switching repetiti on frequency; and the pump power level, all the factors had significant inf luences on the generated laser pulse width.