Passive Q-switching of a laser-diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser with a YAG color center chip

A laser-diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser passively Q-switched with a YAG color center chip is developed. When cw pumped with a laser diode array, the Nd:YLF laser produces pulses of 25 ns duration at 1.047 micrometers , with an energy of 8.7 (mu) J and repetition rate of 0.7 kHz approximately 5 kHz. Data are presented on pulse width, energy, and repetition rate as a function of laser cavity length and the pump power.