Diode-Pumped Acousto-Optically Q-Switched Laser Using a Novel Nd:GdYTaO4 Mixed Crystal

We demonstrate a diode-pumped acousto-optically (A-O) Q-switched 1,066 nm laser with a novel Nd:Gd0.69Y0.3TaO4 mixed crystal. At a modulation repetition rate of 10 kHz and an absorbed pump power of 15 W, the pulsed laser output characteristics are: average output power 2.41 W, pulse width 27.2 ns, pulse energy 241 μJ, and pulse peak power 8.86 kW. At a modulation repetition rate of 20 kHz and an absorbed pump power of 15 W, the characteristics are: average output power 2.68 W, pulse width 30.1 ns, pulse energy 134 μJ, and pulse peak power 4.45 kW.