Comparison between Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO/sub 4/ as gain media for a single-frequency micro-laser

Summary form only given. Microchip lasers are highly efficient and easily mass produced sources of laser radiation. Single-frequency operation, however, is difficult at output powers about 150 mW. Thus, there is great interest in developing single-frequency sources that keep the simplicity of microchip lasers yet which can be operated on a single mode at higher output powers. We have demonstrated 760 mW single frequency at 1064 nm under pumping from a 2 W diode laser. This laser employed Nd:YVO/sub 4/, as a gain medium as opposed to Nd:YAG, which has often been used in such lasers in the past. It utilized a birefringent filter consisting of a Brewster plate and a YVO/sub 4/ birefringent crystal.