Development of a diode-pumped Nd:LSB grazing incidence slab laser: thermal lensing in Nd:LSB and passive Q-switching with Cr4+:YAG

The first study of a diode-pumped Neodymium-doped Lanthanum Scandium Borate oscillator based on the grazing-incidence slab laser design is reported. An experimental method to determine the power of the thermal lens in this new system is described. It is shown that saturable absorption of Cr 4+ :YAG can be used as a passive Q-switch to generate pulses at 1.06 micrometers with adjustable duration from 18 to 76 nsec.