Study of the lasing efficiency of a single-mode, longitudinally diode CW-pumped, Q-switched YLF : Nd3+ laser

We report a theoretical and experimental study of a single-mode Q-switched YLF : Nd³⁺ laser longitudinally pumped by CW laser diodes, with the pump beam parameters and the resonator configuration being varied. The aim of the work is to determine the effect of up-conversion and off-axis radiation beams on the efficiency of generating single-mode Q-switched pulses in a YLF : Nd³⁺ laser longitudinally pumped by CW laser diodes with a power of up to 6 W. As a result, optimal conditions are determined for generating Q-switched pulses with maximum energy and pulse power in a single-mode, longitudinally pumped YLF : Nd³⁺ laser, and the effect of various factors limiting these characteristics is estimated quantitatively.