High-repetition-rate diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 slab laser.

Q-switched pulse energies of approximately 1 mJ at repetition rates as high as 1 kHz have been obtained from an electro-optically Q-switched Nd:YVO4 slab oscillator that was side pumped by a five-bar diode-laser stack. High gain within the slab resulted in pulse durations of less than 5 ns and sub-15-ns buildup times. Thermal effects caused the beam profile to deteriorate gradually from diffraction limited at lower repetition rates to approximately 1.5 times diffraction limited at 1 kHz.