12.0-W continuous-wave diode-end-pumped Nd:GdVO4 laser with high brightness operating at 912-nm

We present a diode-pumped high-power continuous-wave (cw) laser at 912 nm based on the quasi-three-level F-4(3/2)-> I-4(9/2) transition in Nd:GdVO4 crystal. By using a 5-mm-long conventional bulk crystal with 0.2at.% Nd3+-doped concentration, the maximum output power of 12.0 W is obtained, with a slope efficiency of 29.3%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest output at 912 nm generated by diode-pumped Nd: GdVO4 lasers. Furthermore, 3.2 W 456 nm deep-blue light is acquired by frequency doubling, resulting in an optical-to-optical efficiency of 8.0%. The short-term power instability of the blue laser is less than 3%. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America