Method to enhance the pump efficiency of a linearly polarized Nd : YAG laser

Abstract

A simple method to enhance the pump efficiency of a linearly polarized laser with a single Nd:YAG rod is presented. We modified a thermally induced birefringence compensation scheme by using a quarter-wave plate in a polarized plan-plane resonator. In the modified scheme, the depolarization loss due to incomplete thermal compensation was removed by installing an additional feedback mirror. The output power of the modified laser was enhanced 7 times compared to that without a quarter wave plate and a feedback mirror.