Compact efficient diode-end-pumped intracavity frequency-tripled Nd:YAG 355 nm laser

A compact efficient diode-end-pumped acousto-optically Q-switched intracavity-frequency-tripled Nd:YAG 355 nm ultraviolet laser was realized. Intracavity sub-resonators with anti-reflection and high-reflection coated mirrors were used to get higher efficiency of third harmonic generation. With two LBO crystals used in frequency doubling and tripling processes respectively, greater than 1.2 W 355 nm average output power was obtained under the absorbed pump power of 10 W and the repetition rate of 5 kHz. The corresponding pump-to-ultraviolet conversion efficiency was determined to be as high as 12%. At 5 kHz, the minimize pulse width was obtained to be 14.2 ns with the peak power of 16.9 kW and single pulse energy of 240 mu J. The instability of the 355 nm laser was measured to be less than 4.2% at an output power of 0.9 W within half an hour operation.