Abstract
The present status of laser-diode (LD) pumped high-power Nd: YAG lasers at 1.06μm is reviewed. With a side-pumped rod geometry, an output of of 1.25J per pulse is demonstrated. The LD-end-pumped Nd: YAG laser can produce an output power of CW 60W in a near-diffraction-limited beam. A one Joule per Q-switched pulse LD-pumped Nd: YAG zigzag-slab laser is constructed. A 1-kW average-power LD array-pumped folded zigzag-slab Nd: YAG laser is demonstrated at 2.25 kHz. A phase conjugated LD-pumped Nd: YAG MOPA laser architecture is proposed to have a 1 kW average power in a near-diffraction-limited beam. An LD pumped Nd: YAG regenerative amplifier is achieved simultaneously with a high gain (71dB) and a high energy extraction efficiency (48%) .
