Highly efficient CW intracavity frequency-doubled Yb:YAG-LBO laser at 515 nm under 968 nm diode laser pumping

We describe the output performances of the 1030 nm transition in Yb:YAG under in-band pumping with diode laser at the 968 nm wavelength. An end-pumped Yb:YAG crystal yielded 1.93 W of continuous-wave (CW) output power for 9.1 W of absorbed pump power. The slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power was 23.6%. Furthermore, 205 mW 515 nm green light was acquired by frequency doubling, resulting in an optical-to-optical efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power of 2.7%. Comparative results obtained for the pump with diode laser at 940 nm are given in order to prove the advantages of the in-band pumping.