The optimization of a diode‐pumped continuous‐wave Nd:GdNbO4 laser under direct pumping

A diode‐pumped continuous‐wave (CW) Nd:GdNbO4 laser were investigated and optimized when an 879 nm laser diode (LD) was adopted. The direct pumping of 879 nm LD was used to pump the ground state population into the laser upper level directly. The CW output performance of the Nd:GdNbO4 laser was investigated when the waist radius of pump beam, the transmission of output coupler and the length of laser resonator were considered. The highest output power of 2.76 W and the corresponding slope efficiency of 49.1%, to the best of our knowledge, were obtained under the conditions of cavity length of 30 mm, pump beam of 320 μm and output coupler's transmission of 10%.