Eye-safe Nd:YAG laser

Abstract

We have demonstrated that a significant amount of laser energy can be extracted at 1.4444 μm from Nd:YAG at room temperature. The stimulated emission cross section at 1.4444 μm is not unduly small. More than 1 J of laser energy in the non-Q-switched mode and over 130 mJ with a pulse width of 85 ns full width at half maximum in the Q-switched mode have been obtained. The 1.4444 μm laser has also been operated successfully at repetition rates up to 10 Hz at the 100 mJ/pulse level. Other lasing transitions at 1.064, 1.3187, 1.3381, 1.3572, and 1.4150 μm have also been observed.