Efficient Diode-Pumped Actively Q-Switched Ceramic Nd:YAG/YVO4 Raman Laser Operating at 1657 nm

A diode-pumped actively Q-switched Raman laser is demonstrated, with YVO₄ employed as Raman active medium, based on a ceramic Nd:YAG laser operating at 1444 nm. The first-stokes Raman generation at 1657 nm is achieved. A maximum output power of as high as 612 mW is obtained under a pump power of 20.7 W and at a pulse repetition frequency rate of 20 kHz, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 3%.