High-power longitudinally end-diode-pumped Nd:YLF regenerative amplifier

Abstract

We describe a high-power compact diode-pumped Nd:YLF regenerative amplifier. The pumping source is a 15-W diode-laser array that is focused into the laser crystal with a longitudinal end-pumping arrangement based on an array of cylindrical microlenses. Seeded with 15-ps pulses from a diode-pumped and mode-locked Nd:YLF oscillator, the regenerative amplifier produces pulses of 0.5-mJ energy at a 1-kHz repetition rate. A pulse energy as high as 0.75 mJ is achieved at a 500-Hz repetition rate and below.