Laser diode array pumped circulating Nd3+:POCl3:SnCl4 liquid laser

•Inorganic lasing liquid (Nd3+:POCl3:SnCl4) based laser.•Laser diode array pumped circulating liquid laser.•Chemical resistant transverse flow laser cell.•Development of circulation circuit for liquid flow.•Laser power demonstration. In the present paper, a laser diode array pumped transversely circulating inorganic lasing liquid based laser is demonstrated. The lasing liquid consisting of 0.3 mol/l trivalent neodymium (Nd3+) ions is synthesized in a mixture of phosphorous oxychloride (POCl3) and tin tetrachloride (SnCl4). Laser cell having gain medium dimension of 10 mm × 8 mm × 60 mm is side-pumped in close-coupling configuration by vertically-arranged laser diode bars in an array. The lasing liquid is circulated through the laser cell transverse to the optic axis in close loop manner at flow rates of 10–12 l/min under laminar flow regime to replenish the heated lasing liquid. The maximum small-signal gain of 2.6% cm−1 is determined corresponding to peak pump power of 3296 W. The peak laser power of 294 W is obtained at peak pump power of 3296 W with an optical–optical efficiency of 8.9% and a slope efficiency of 21.5%. The obtained results are indicative of power scalability of liquid laser with increased optical–optical efficiency.