Passive Q-switching of an intracavity frequency doubled diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4//KTP green laser with Cr/sup 4+/:YAG

A compact diode-pumped green-pulse laser has been demonstrated by using Cr/sup 4+/:YAG as a saturable absorber in a simple cavity formed by a coated Nd:YVO/sub 4/ crystal and a coated KTP crystal. When continuous-wave (CW) pumped with a fiber-coupled laser diode, the laser produces green pulses of 20-35-ns duration at 532 nm, with a repetition rate of 15-70 kHz. The highest green peak power was 80.8 W, obtained at 1.2 W of pump power, which is 320 times enhancement in comparison to a green output power of 250 mW under CW.