>100Â kHz Q-switched operation in transversely diode-pumped ceramic Nd3+:YAG laser in bounce geometry

Efficient continuous wave (CW) and high repetition rate Q-switched operations of a laser diode transversely pumped 2% Nd-doped ceramic Y3Al12O5(YAG) laser in bounce geometry are presented. In CW operation 13 W of output power was produced with a slope efficiency of 40%. The average power under Q-switched operation reached up to as much as 10 W at a repetition frequency of 160 kHz. A pulse width of 24 ns was observed at repetition rate of 20 kHz and less than 100 ns across the Q-switched range of 10-160 kHz.