Near-diffraction-limited diode-pumped thin-disk Nd:YVO4 laser

Room temperature operation of a Nd:YVO4 thin disk laser with excellent beam quality is reported. Pumping by a fiber coupled diode laser with 10 W at the fiber end yields a continuous wave output power of 4.4 W at 1064 nm. The corresponding total optical efficiency is 44% and the average slope efficiency is 46%. For higher pump powers, a maximum output power of 13.7 W was achieved in a near diffraction limited beam.