Abstract
We describe a simple-design laser-diode-pumped CW Nd:YAG active-mirror laser and a thermal analysis in the crystal. A CW output power of 2.4 W and an M2 beam-quality value of less than 1.9 at an incident pumping power of 8.9 W have been obtained. From the thermal analysis, we predict that the output power can be increased by increasing the pump beam diameter at a constant pump-power density. We also calculate the maximum temperature rises and the focal lengths of thermal lenses for various cylindrical laser crystals with different radius-to-length aspect ratios.
