Transversely diode-pumped passively Q-switched erbium glass laser emitter

The properties of a laser diode array-pumped passively Q-switched ytterbium-erbium glass laser emitter are studied. It is found experimentally that the maximum output energy is achieved when the diameter of the TEM00 mode is 0.65-0.77 of the transverse size of the active element. By using two 100-W linear laser diode arrays with the output power not exceeding 70% of the maximum power, 5 mJ was achieved in a 50-ns diffraction-limited single pulse for the efficiency (with respect to the pump radiation energy) of 1.35%. (lasers)