Efficient diode-laser side-pumped TEM(00)-mode Nd:YAG laser.

A diode-laser side-pumped Nd:YAG laser that uses a simple, multipass pumping geometry has been investigated. This geometryallows efficient pumping of small-diameter laser rods, reduced dependence on pump wavelength, and efficient TEM(00)-mode operation. A 5.8-mJ output energy in a near TEM(00) mode has been obtained for 21.5-mJ pump energy, whichcorresponds to an optical efficiency of 27%. Corresponding results from numerical simulations show similar good mode quality and an optical efficiency of 40%.