A high average power, high repetition rate, electro-optically Q-switched diode pumped laser system

Summary form only given. In this paper results are presented of the development of an all solid-state 15 Watt, 20 kHz repetition rate Q-switched laser oscillator with a 15 ns pulse length and a good beam quality. This laser system is particularly suitable for driving non-linear optics and machining applications. Nd:YVO/sub 4/ was chosen for the laser material for a number of reasons. Its high stimulated emission cross-section enables the production of relatively short Q-switched pulses with modest pulse energies, the output is well polarized without the need for a polariser, the Q-switch does not require a polariser and the thermal lensing is less than in Nd:YAG in a similar set up.