Low heat generation can be obtained when pumping Nd:YLF at wavelengths of 872 nm and 880 nm and emitting at the three-level transition of 908 nm. These transitions show very low quantum defect with efficiencies of 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. However, the low average absorption cross-section at these wavelengths makes efficient absorption even for longitudinal pump setups difficult. Using a beam-shaped pump diode instead of a fiber-coupled diode bar may be an effective means of increasing absorption because it can provide for π-polarized radiation which shows higher absorption cross section. In this work, a Nd:YLF was pumped at 872 nm by a diode bar using beam-shaping. Results were compared to pumping at 872 and 880 nm with non-polarized fiber-coupled diodes. Stimulated Raman scattering was also obtained with a KGW crystal generating first Stokes emissions at 990 nm and 976 nm.
Nd:YLiF4 is the gain material of choice whenever outstanding beam quality or a birefringent gain material is necessary such as in certain applications for terahertz radiation or dual-frequency mode-locking. However, for high power CW applications the material is hampered by a low thermal fracture threshold. This problem can be mitigated by special 2D pump set-ups or by keeping the quantum defect to a minimum. Direct pumping into the upper laser level of Nd:YLiF4 is usually performed at 880 nm. For quasi-three level laser emission at 908 nm, direct pumping at this wavelength provides a high quantum defect of 0.97, which allows for very high CW pump powers. Although the direct pumping transition to the upper laser state at 872 nm has a slightly smaller quantum defect of 0.96, its pump absorption cross section along the c-axis is 50% higher than at 880 nm, leading to a higher absorption efficiency. In this work we explore, for the first time to our knowledge, 908 nm lasing under 872 nm diode pumping and compare the results with 880 nm pumping for quasicw and cw operation. By inserting a KGW crystal in the cavity, Raman lines at 990 nm and 972 nm were obtained for the first time from a directly pumped 908 nm Nd:YLF fundamental laser for both quasi-cw and cw conditions.
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